Leonora Duarte (1610-1678) Belgium
- andreachamizoalber
- Aug 31
- 2 min read
A flamenco composer and performer from a wealthy Portuguese-Jewish family with a passion for music, Leonora Duarte composed several symphonies for viola da gamba ensemble, which are preserved in the Christ Church Library in Oxford.
Leonora Duarte was the daughter of Gaspar Duarte (1584-1653) and Catharina Rodrigues (1585-1644), who had six children: Leonora, Catharina and Francisca, all of whom died as victims of the plague that swept through Antwerp in 1678; Isabella and Gaspar, both of whom died in 1685; and finally, Diego, who lived until 1691. The Duartes, a family of assimilated Portuguese Jews, made their fortune through successful trading in jewelry, especially diamonds. The family also dedicated themselves to the sale of works of art.
I'll start by sharing her Symphony No. 2. It's the only one with a link to the score.
The family residence was located in the center of Antwerp on the Meir, a center of musical activity. Noteworthy were the visits of Constantijn Huygens (1596-1687) and his son Christiaan, who shared the Duartes' interest in music, science, and literature. Francisca Duarte, nicknamed the "Nightingale of Antwerp" ( Rossignol Anversois ), Leonora's sister, sang duets and accompanied herself on a harpsichord. During a visit to the family in March 1663, Christiaan Huygens described Francisca's after-dinner performance on the harpsichord as magnificent, as well as a piece written by her brother Diego, with devotional texts in Flemish and saraband rhythm.
Here is her Symphony No. 7.
In addition to Dutch vocal music, the Duarte family was also interested in the latest compositions from Italy and France. The Duarte family home appears to have been a meeting place for European styles. When Diego Duarte, the last member of the family, died without heir in 1691, leaving only one relative to execute their will and sell the numerous artistic objects in his home. Thus, with him, the family and the Antwerp musical and artistic parnassus died.
Now here is Symphony No. 1.
Both Leonora and her brother Diego were talented enough to sing and play several instruments, and were also good at composing musical pieces. Leonora wrote a series of seven fantasies for a group of five violas in the late Jacobean style, which she called Abstract Symphonies . The library at Christ Church College, Oxford, holds a copy of the scores made by a professional scribe, although it provides the titles in Leonora's father's handwriting. The pieces show remarkable talent for an amateur's hobby.
Finally, her Symphony No. 6.
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