Photo: Fondo Antiguo de la Biblioteca de la Universidad de Sevilla from Sevilla, España · CC BY 2.0 · credits
Tier 3 · vertical & regionalfull biography
Francisco Guerrero
Person · male · Crown of Castile · Seville · born 1528 · died 1599 · recording since 1985
Spanish composer of the Renaissance
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Also known as フランシスコ・ゲレーロ
Timeline
19 events▣ Album 16◦ Birth 1† Death 1★ Debut release 1
1520s
1590s
1980s
· Debut release
Debut release: Treasures of the Spanish Renaissance
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1990s
2000s
· Album
Album: Villanescas III (Musica Ficta & Ensemble Fontegara feat. conductor: Raúl Mallavibarrena)
Album
source: musicbrainz
2010s
2020s
Biography
English biography622 words · 3 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1277617887
Biography
Francisco Guerrero (October 4 (?), 1528 – November 8, 1599) was a Spanish Catholic priest and composer of the Renaissance. He was born and died in Seville.
Life and career
Guerrero's early musical education was with his older brother Pedro and after that with the famous composer Cristóbal de Morales. At the age of 18 he was appointed maestro de capilla (i.e. music director) at Jaén Cathedral. Three years later he accepted a position of singer at Seville Cathedral. During this time he was much in demand as a singer and composer, establishing an exceptional reputation before his thirtieth birthday; in addition he published several collections of his music abroad, an unusual event for a young composer.
After several decades of working and traveling throughout Spain and Portugal, sometimes in the employ of emperor Maximilian II, he went to Italy for a year (1581–1582) where he published two books of his music. After returning to Spain for several years, he decided to travel to the Holy Land, which he finally was able to do in 1589. His adventure included visits to Damascus, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem; on the return trip his ship was twice attacked by pirates, who threatened his life, stole his money, and held him for ransom. He was able to return to Spain; unfortunately he had no money, and endured a series of misfortunes, including some time spent in debtors' prison. At last his old employer at Seville Cathedral extricated Guerrero and he resumed working for them. His book on his adventurous visit to the Holy Land was published in 1590 and was a popular success (it is reasonable to suppose that Cervantes knew it). At the end of the decade he planned one more trip to the Holy Land but died in the plague of 1599 in Seville before he was able to depart.
Of all the Spanish Renaissance composers, he lived and worked the most in Spain. Others—for example Morales and Victoria—spent large portions of their careers in Italy (though, unlike many Franco-Flemish composers of the time, Spanish composers usually returned home later in life).
Guerrero's music was both sacred and secular, unlike that of Victoria and Morales, the two other Spanish 16th-century composers of the first rank. He wrote numerous secular songs and instrumental pieces, in addition to masses, motets, and Passions. He was able to capture an astonishing variety of moods in his music, from ecstasy to despair, longing, joy, and devotional stillness; his music remained popular for hundreds of years, especially in cathedrals in Latin America. Stylistically he preferred homophonic textures, rather like his Spanish contemporaries, and he wrote memorable, singable lines. One interesting feature of his style is how he anticipated functional harmonic usage: there is a case of a Magnificat discovered in Lima, Peru, once thought to be an anonymous 18th century work, which turned out to be a work of his.
Recordings
Francisco Guerrero, Missa Sancta Et Immaculata, Motets, Etc. James O'Donnell, Westminster Cathedral Choir. Helios CDH55313
Francisco Guerrero, Magnificat, Lamentations & Canciones. Peter Phillips, El León de Oro. Hyperion CDA68347
Francisco Guerrero, Missa Congratulamini mihi & other works. Andrew Carwood, The Cardinall's Musick. Hyperion CDA67836
Francisco Guerrero, Missa De la batalla escoutez & other works. James O'Donnell, Westminster Cathedral Choir, His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts. Helios CDH55340
Francisco Guerrero, Missa Surge Propera. Peter Philips, Tallis Scholars. CDGIM040
Francisco Guerrero, Missa Super Flumina Babylonis. Michael Noone, Ensemble Plus Ultra. GCD922005
Francisco Guerrero, Requiem & Vespers for All Saints. Alistair Dixon, Chapelle du Roi. Signum SIGCD017
Apollo5, Where All Roses Go, includes Veni Domine,Oh, Virgen, cuando os miro, and Virgen Sancta, VOCES8 Records, UNSPSC Code 55111500
Fracisco Guerrero, Missa Iste sanctus in O Beata Virgo Maria: Renaissance & Contemporary Choral Works, David Bray, Luminatus, Convivium Records, 2023.
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 23 | 84.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 16 | 85.4th |
| Studio albums | 16 | 95.1th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 19 | 93.4th |
| Recording span (years) | -386 | 0.7th |
| Genres | 2 | 74th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (16 release groups · 16 studio albums)
Albums · 16
Treasures of the Spanish Renaissance
1985 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 1:01:28
A1Surge propera amica mea5:50A2O altitudo divitiarum4:16A3O Domine Jesu Christe5:10A4O sacrum convivium5:10A5Ave virgo sanctissima5:33A6Regina caeli a 84:25B1Versa est in luctum6:44B2Ave Maria6:05B3O quam suavis est, Domine6:33B4Magnificat octavi toni11:421992 · studio album
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Tracklist · 16 tracks · 1:08:14
1Ave Maria (a 4)3:492Alma Redemptoris mater ( a 4)3:303Beata Dei genitrix, Maria ( a 6)5:194Pater Noster ( a 8)5:025O Domine Jesu Christe I ( instrumental a 4)3:346O Domine Jesu Christe II ( a 4)3:327O sacrum convivium ( a 5)3:308Laudate Dominum de caelis ( a 8)3:219Gabriel archangelus ( a 4)4:3410Ave, virgo sanctissima ( a 5)3:4711Salve Regina ( a 4)8:5012Regina caeli ( a 8)4:5513O Altitudo divitiarum ( instrumental a 8)2:5414Trahe me post te, Virgo Maria ( a 5)4:0715Duo Seraphim ( a 12)3:4016Ave Maria ( a 8)3:501997 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 1:04:50
1Missa Sancta et immaculata: Kyrie4:352Missa Sancta et immaculata: Gloria5:563Missa Sancta et immaculata: Credo9:214Missa Sancta et immaculata: Sanctus3:435Missa Sancta et immaculata: Benedictus3:056Missa Sancta et immaculata: Agnus Dei3:487Hei mihi, Domine4:478Trahe me post te, Virgo Maria4:349Magnificat septimi toni7:4110Vexilla regis10:4511O lux beata Trinitas3:2812Lauda mater ecclesia3:07Misa "Puer Natus Est" Canciones y Villanescas Espirituales
1999 · studio album
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Tracklist · 16 tracks · 59:03
1Canciones y villanescas espirituales: ¡O que nueva!2:102Introitus. Puer natus est3:493Misa Puer natus est: Kyrie eleison7:454Misa Puer natus est: Gloria4:195Graduale. Viderum omnes1:306Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Niño Dios d'amor herido1:567Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Mi fe, vengo de Belén2:348Misa Puer natus est: Credo7:479Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Pastores, si nos quereis3:0310Offertorium. Tui sunt caeli2:1811Canciones y villanescas espirituales: ¡O grandes paces!2:4812Misa Puer natus est: Sanctus - Benedictus5:3413Canciones y villanescas espirituales: ¡O que plazer!2:5414Misa Puer natus est: Agnus Dei5:3115Communio. Viderunt omnes0:4816Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Al resplandor d'una estrella4:17Battle Mass: Missa de la batalla escoutez
1999 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 1:12:13
1Pange lingua gloriosi8:402Missa de la batalla escoutez: Kyrie3:193Missa de la batalla escoutez: Gloria5:424Missa de la batalla escoutez: Credo8:305Missa de la batalla escoutez: Sanctus2:526Missa de la batalla escoutez: Benedictus2:477Missa de la batalla escoutez: Agnus Dei6:108In exitu Israel14:079Duo Seraphim clamabant4:2610Regina caeli laetitur3:4111Magnificat octavi toni7:3512Conditor alme siderum4:24Canciones y villanescas espirituales
2005 · studio album
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Tracklist · 19 tracks · 1:03:49
1Hombres Victoria, Victoria2:242¿De dónde vienes Pascual?1:523Niño Dios d’amor herido2:234Claros y hermosos ojos3:055La tierra se está gozando2:496A un niño llorando5:007Acaba de matarme3:048Juicios sobre una estrella3:309Mi ofensa’s grande5:0910Virgen Sancta3:5911¡O celestial Medicina!2:2512Al resplandor de una estrella4:4313¡O qué mesa y qué manjar!2:4814Apuestan zagales dos!2:5215¿Sabes lo que heziste?6:0516O, Virgen, quando's miro2:0917Zagales sin seso vengo2:0318Quando's miro mi Dios4:2119Los Reyes siguen la'strella3:082006 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks
1Missa Surge propera: I. Kyrie2Missa Surge propera: II. Gloria3Missa Surge propera: III. Credo4Missa Surge propera: IV. Sanctus & Benedictus5Missa Surge propera: V. Agnus Dei6Usquequo, Domine7Ave Maria8Hei mihi, Domine9Surge propera10Beata Dei genitrix11Ave virgo sanctissima12Regina caeli laetare2006 · studio album
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Tracklist · 21 tracks · 1:04:17
1Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Zagales, sin seso vengo2:232Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Al resplandor d'una estrella4:173Canciones y villanescas espirituales: La gracia y los ojos bellos2:094Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Tan largo a sido2:185Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Mi ofensa's grande5:036Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Dezidme, fuente clara3:127Canciones y villanescas espirituales: ¿De donde vienes Pascual? (Mi fe, vengo de Belén)1:568Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Ojos claros, serenos2:269Canciones y villanescas espirituales: O dulce y gran contento2:3010Canciones y villanescas espirituales: ¡Hombres, victoria!2:4611Canciones y villanescas espirituales: En tanto que de rosa3:3912Canciones y villanescas espirituales: ¡O celestial medicina!2:0213Canciones y villanescas espirituales: O Virgen, quando's miro3:1214Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Pluguiera a Dios4:1715Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Quando's miro, mi Dios4:4216Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Los Reyes siguen la'strella2:3917Canciones y villanescas espirituales: ¡O venturoso dia!4:2218Canciones y villanescas espirituales: La luz de vuestros ojos2:4119Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Huyd, huyd2:1120Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Estraña muestra d'amar2:2921Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Apuestan zagales dos3:032006 · studio album
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Tracklist · 19 tracks · 1:02:31
1Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Todo quanto pudo dar4:152Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Niño Dios d'amor herido3:063Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Vamos al portal4:334Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Pues la guía d'una estrella3:135Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Si tus penas no pruevo3:466Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Baxóme mi descuydo2:417Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Pan divino, graçioso3:408Canciones y villanescas espirituales: ¡Qué buen año es el del çielo!2:099Canciones y villanescas espirituales: ¿Qué se puede desear?2:0610Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Es menester que se açierte1:5811Canciones y villanescas espirituales: A un niño llorando al yelo4:5412Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Oy Joseph2:1013Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Pastor, quien madre virgen2:2114Canciones y villanescas espirituales: ¿Sabes lo que heziste?4:5715Canciones y villanescas espirituales: ¡Oh qué mesa y qué manjar!2:1016Canciones y villanescas espirituales: De amores del Señor3:4817Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Antes que comáis a Dios2:3618Canciones y villanescas espirituales: ¿Qué te daré, Señor?4:2319Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Prado verde y florido3:45Villanescas III (Musica Ficta & Ensemble Fontegara feat. conductor: Raúl Mallavibarrena)
2007 · studio album
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Tracklist · 22 tracks · 1:02:16
1Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Dios los estremos condena1:572Canciones y villanescas espirituales: La tierra s’está gozando2:423Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Vana sperança3:424Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Adios, verde ribera1:415Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Alma, mirad vuestro Dios2:196Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Dexó del mundo2:507Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Quiere Dios que le ofrezcamos5:118Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Alma, si sabes d’amor2:109Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Prado ameno, graçioso1:3910Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Virgen Santa3:0511Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Claros y hermosos ojos3:0812Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Esclareçida madre2:1013Canciones y villanescas espirituales: ¡O grandes pazes!2:4014Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Juycios sobre una estrella3:4415Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Sanctíssima María2:3516Canciones y villanescas espirituales: ¡O que nueva!2:1717Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Si del jardín del çielo2:3618Canciones y villanescas espirituales: ¡O qué plazer!3:0719Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Dios inmortal2:2920Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Pastores, si nos queréis3:1821Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Acaba de matarme3:2722Canciones y villanescas espirituales: Oyd, oyd una cosa3:292007 · studio album
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Tracklist · 18 tracks · 1:18:58
1Ave virgo sanctissima3:512Regina caeli a 84:243Si el mirar1:404Missa Super flumina Babylonis: Kyrie4:065Missa Super flumina Babylonis: Gloria4:556In exitu Israel2:087Missa Super flumina Babylonis: Credo8:338Super flumina Babylonis1:429Missa Super flumina Babylonis: Sanctus: Sanctus2:0410Missa Super flumina Babylonis: Sanctus: Hosanna0:5111Missa Super flumina Babylonis: Sanctus: Benedictus1:4012Missa Super flumina Babylonis: Sanctus: Hosanna0:5813Missa Super flumina Babylonis: Agnus Dei8:1714Celsi confessoris5:4015Ut queant laxis6:1516In exitu Israel15:0517Adios mi amor1:2218Conditor alme siderum5:27Missa Congratulamini mihi & other works
2010 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 1:05:09
1Missa Congratulamini mihi: I. Kyrie4:152Missa Congratulamini mihi: II. Gloria6:043Missa Congratulamini mihi: III. Credo9:144Missa Congratulamini mihi: IV. Sanctus2:545Missa Congratulamini mihi: V. Benedictus3:016Missa Congratulamini mihi: VI. Agnus Dei6:407Congratulamini mihi6:578Dum esset rex3:019Maria Magdalene et altera Maria6:3310Post dies octo5:2311Regina caeli a 42:3812Ave Maria4:2413Regina caeli a 84:052011 · studio album
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Tracklist · 16 tracks · 1:00:56
1Gabriel archangelus, motet à 44:342Kyrie from Missa L'homme armé à 42:423Gloria from Missa L'homme armé à 45:374In illo tempore, motet à 42:255Credo from Missa L'homme armé à 410:006Qué buen año, villanesca à 32:137Ojos claros serenos, canción à 42:118Vana speranca, canción à 44:079Acabe de matarme, canción à 42:4010O Virgen, quand'os miro, canción à 33:0711Es menester que se acierte, villanesca à 31:4812Adiós, verde ribera, canción à 42:3113Virgo prudentissima, motet à 43:0114Sanctus-Benedictus from Missa L'homme armé à 45:3415Agnus Dei from Missa L'homme armé à 44:3116Sancta et immaculata, motet à 43:552015 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 1:10:25
1Duo Seraphim a124:082Missa Maria Magdalene: I. Kyrie4:363Libera me8:044Missa Surge Propera: II. Gloria4:455Laudate Dominum a83:286Maria Magdalene7:207Missa de la Batalla Escoutez: III. Credo7:258Vexilla Regis7:449Ave Regina Caelorum3:1810Ave Maria a83:3411Versa est in Luctum4:2612Missa Congratulamini Mihi: VI. Agnus Dei I & II5:0313Credo Romano6:34Magnificat, Lamentations & Canciones
2021 · studio album
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Tracklist · 32 tracks · 1:00:54
1Magnificat quarti toni: Magnificat anima mea0:562Magnificat quarti toni: Quia respexit humilitatem1:233Magnificat quarti toni: Et misericordia eius1:224Magnificat quarti toni: Deposuit potentes1:195Magnificat quarti toni: Suscepit Israel1:086Magnificat quarti toni: Gloria2:067Ave virgo sanctissima3:398Hei mihi, Domine3:499Lamentations: Incipit lamentatio0:3910Lamentations: Aleph. Quomodo sedet sola2:0111Lamentations: Beth. Plorans ploravit1:5412Lamentations: Omnes amici eius0:4313Lamentations: Ghimel. Migravit Juda2:2014Lamentations: Jerusalem, Jerusalem1:2515Beatus Achacius oravit: Beatus Achacius oravit4:1116Beatus Achacius oravit: Concedesque eis3:0217Sancta et immaculata: Sancta et immaculata2:0318Sancta et immaculata: Benedicta tu in mulieribus2:0119Regina caeli a 84:1620Laudate Dominum de caelis3:2421Los reyes siguen la ’strella: Los reyes siguen0:4522Los reyes siguen la ’strella: Teniendo de Dios notiçia0:3123Los reyes siguen la ’strella: Guiados son d’una ’strella0:4524Los reyes siguen la ’strella: Buscan al rey soberano0:3225Los reyes siguen la ’strella: Siguen los tres0:5426Antes que comáis a Dios: Antes que comáis1:0727Antes que comáis a Dios: Antes qu’en vuestra posada0:3328Antes que comáis a Dios: Y pues recebís a Dios1:1729Sanctíssima María2:3930Si tus penas no pruevo: Si tus penas1:1131Si tus penas no pruevo: Hiéreme, pues el alma2:0132Mi ofensa’s grande4:582023 · studio album
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Tracklist · 31 tracks · 1:12:11
1Gaude Barbara: Gaude Barbara2:152Gaude Barbara: Te laudantem familiam2:393Quomodo cantabimus canticum Domini?4:284Simile est regnum caelorum2:495O crux splendidior4:306Ductus est Jesus: Ductus est Jesus2:097Ductus est Jesus: Si Filius Dei es2:078Missa Ecce sacerdos magnus: Kyrie I / Ecce sacerdos magnus1:249Missa Ecce sacerdos magnus: Christe1:0310Missa Ecce sacerdos magnus: Kyrie II / Ecce sacerdos magnus1:1911Missa Ecce sacerdos magnus: Gloria2:1312Missa Ecce sacerdos magnus: Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere2:0413Missa Ecce sacerdos magnus: Credo3:4114Missa Ecce sacerdos magnus: Crucifixus1:5915Missa Ecce sacerdos magnus: Et in Spiritum Sanctum2:4816Missa Ecce sacerdos magnus: Sanctus / Ecce sacerdos magnus1:5017Missa Ecce sacerdos magnus: Osanna I1:0418Missa Ecce sacerdos magnus: Benedictus1:4219Missa Ecce sacerdos magnus: Osanna II1:1020Missa Ecce sacerdos magnus: Agnus Dei I / Ecce sacerdos magnus1:4821Missa Ecce sacerdos magnus: Agnus Dei II / Ecce sacerdos magnus3:4522Peccantem me quotidie5:4423Beatus es et bene tibi erit3:1624Quae est ista tam formosa?: Quae est ista?3:0525Quae est ista tam formosa?: Surge propera3:1926Magnificat secundi toni: Magnificat anima mea – Et exsultavit1:0427Magnificat secundi toni: Quia respexit – Qui fecit1:2628Magnificat secundi toni: Et misericordia eius – Fecit potentiam1:3029Magnificat secundi toni: Deposuit potentes – Esurientes implevit1:3230Magnificat secundi toni: Suscepit Israel – Sicut locutus est1:1131Magnificat secundi toni: Gloria Patri – Sicut erat in principio1:17
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Francisco Guerrero head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 23 | 84.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 16 | 85.4th |
| Studio albums | 16 | 95.1th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 19 | 93.4th |
| Recording span (years) | -386 | 0.7th |
| Genres | 2 | 74th |
Awards & honours
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Libro_de...memorables_varones%2C_1886_%22Francisco_Guerrero%22._%283816814223%29.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/9d0671e3-2254-480b-a543-c37de339842fdiscography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/9d0671e3-2254-480b-a543-c37de339842fcore—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q470568seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_Guerrero_%28composer%29biography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_Guerrero_%28composer%29
Why this artist is in the database
- List of composers by name
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: Fondo Antiguo de la Biblioteca de la Universidad de Sevilla from Sevilla, España · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q470568 · MusicBrainz: 9d0671e3-2254-480b-a543-c37de339842f