Monserrate, Montserrat, Montserrate, Andrés de, *2nd half of the 16th century Codalet (Catalonia), †after 1614 (?), Spanish theorist, member of the chapter of St. Martin’s Church in Valencia. Author of the treatise Arte breve, y compendiosa de las dificultades que se ofrecen en la música practica del canto llano (Valencia 1614). Intended as a simple music textbook, Monserrate’s work is merely a compilation of the knowledge of the most eminent music theorists of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. In the first part, the author discusses the solmization system, modal theory, types of cadential formulas, the issue of musical notation, and the use of accidentals in chorale singing; in the second part, using quotations and musical examples, he discusses selected specific issues that are key to the practice of choral singing. Monserrate takes a conservative stance on the proposals made at the time to expand Guidon of Arezzo’s solmization system from six to seven syllables. His treatise, one of the few published in Spain in the first half of the 17th century, was later often referred to by Iberian theorists.
Literature: F. Pedrell Andrés de Monserrate, “Revista musical catalana” IV, 1907; F.J. León Tello La teoria española de la música en los siglos XVII y XVIII, Madrid 1974.
