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Tier 3 · vertical & regionalfull biography
Luis de Milán
Person · male · Crown of Aragon · Valencia · born 1500 · died 1561 · recording since 1989
Spanish musician
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Also known as Lluís del Mila · Luis Milan · Luis Milán · Luis de Milan · Luys Milan · Luys de Milan · +2 more
Timeline
11 events▣ Album 8◦ Birth 1† Death 1★ Debut release 1
1500s
1560s
1980s
· Debut release
Debut release: El Maestro 1536, Volume 1
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
Biography
English biography1,025 words · 8 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1305757126
Biography
Luis de Milán (also known as Lluís del Milà or Luys Milán) (c. 1500 – c. 1561) was a Spanish Renaissance composer, vihuelist, and writer on music. He was the first composer in history to publish music for the vihuela de mano, an instrument employed primarily in the Iberian peninsula and some of the Italian states during the 15th and 16th centuries, and he was also one of the first musicians to specify verbal tempo indications in his music.
Life
Luis de Milán probably lived all his life in Valencia, though details are sketchy at best. He seems to have been employed by the Valencian court of Germaine de Foix until around 1538. In 1535 he published his first book, a parlor game with music called El juego de mandar. The next year he issued what would be his most important book, El maestro. This was the first printed collection of vihuela music, and both books were composed during his ducal court residence. It is likely that Milán was a Valencian nobleman who entered minor religious orders before later becoming the rector of a parish church. He would have eventually been married sometime before 1555, and died in 1559. Milán's final work titled El cortesano provides insight into court life and his musical ideas. It is clear that Milán, as well as notable poets such as Juan Fernández and Gil Polo, thought highly of his work and talent.
El Maestro (1536)
Milán’s Libro de música de vihuela de mano intitulado El Maestro was printed in December 1536 and dedicated to King John III of Portugal. The dedication, and the inclusion of six villancicos in Portuguese, suggests that Milán traveled to that country and spent time there. El maestro is the earliest known Spanish publication with a collection of solo instrumental and accompanied music. The performer was typically both the singer and vihuelist. This collection marks the first use of printed Spanish tablature, as well as the introduction of written tempo instructions. These tempo's were typically maintained throughout the entire piece unless the work was written in the 'gallant' style, in which the tempo then varied between fast and slow. Similarly to the Neapolitan style of notation, El maestro uses the top line to represent the highest-pitched string.
El Maestro is the first collection of vihuela music, and was in part intended for students of the instrument, with scores presented in grades from simple to complex so that vihuelists could proceed from elementary to harder pieces. The book provides guidance to the reader on how to read tablature, select strings, and tune the vihuela. The set is divided into two books, one for the vihuela alone and the other for voice and vihuela. (A breakdown of its 72 works is at Spanish Wikipedia.) There are forty fantasías, six pavanas, and four tientos in the instrumental volume. For voice, there are twelve villancicos, four romances, and six sonetos (sonnets). All of these are to Castilian texts, except for the sonetos, which are in Italian, and half of the villancicos are in Portuguese, as noted above. While still innovative, El Maestro uses traditional styles of instrumental improvisation that are shaped by his self-taught background and his time at the Valencian court. Milán composed directly on the vihuela before writing down his music.
Much of the collection requires considerable virtuosity. Still, not all the ornamentation is provided in detail. The style of the compositions varies from simple homophony to polyphony and virtuoso passage-work; unusual chromaticism also occurs, including strange double-inflections which were quite rare in music from other parts of Europe at the time. This is especially true in Milán's villancicos, which were set to love poetry and followed an ABBA structure. These works were composed with two versions: a basic accompaniment allowing the singer to add ornaments, and an unembellished vocal line with a highly embellished vihuela part. While his compositions may have seemed somewhat unpolished compared to other vocal works of contemporary counterpoint, his mastery of his instrument and his refined writing for vihuela led him to success.
The largest section of El maestro consists of 40 fantasias and showcases these varying complexities. These pieces are structured as a series of contrasting sections. They remain unified through modal organization and similar motifs based upon familiar improvisational patterns by Milán. The fantasias generally follow a three-part structure: an imitative opening followed by short contrasting episodes, and concluding with a repeated final section and a short coda. This form also appears in the tientos of the gallant style. It appears that the book was prepared with great care; alternative passages are given for players who wish to avoid more virtuosic parts, sections of pieces are indicated as optional, and descriptive tempo indications are provided, for example, ni muy apriessa ni muy a espacio sino con un compás bien mesurado ("neither too quickly nor too slowly, but with a moderate measure").
Late works
Milán’s last publication, El cortesano (1561), modeled on Il Cortegiano by Baldassare Castiglione, gives a vivid and entertaining picture of life in the Valencian ducal court. While it contains no music, it is a valuable account by a professional musician at the time.
Legacy
Luis de Milán is most recognized for publishing the first printed collection of vihuela music, El maestro. The music of Luis de Milán is popular with performers on the present-day classical guitar because it can be adapted very easily to their instrument.
List of Works
Agora viniesse un viento
Al amor quiero vencer
Aquel cavallero
Canción
Con pavor recordo el moro
Fantasía del octavo tono
Fantasía del quarto tono
O gelosia d'amanti
O vos omnes qui transitis
Quien amores ten
Toda mi vida os ame
Recordings
Luis de Milán interpreted by Jordi Savall, [1]
Listen online (Magnatune) to "El Maestro" performed by Edward Martin or by Jacob Heringman and Catherine King.
2005 – Dulcis Melancholia. Biographie musicale de Marguerite d’Autriche. Capilla Flamenca. MEW 0525. Contains a recording of Pavane 4 and Pavane 5 (La bella franceschina) by Luis Milan.
Sheetmusic
Libro de musica de vihuela de mano, intitulado El Maestro (click "View options" JPG icon) - Biblioteca Nacional de España info
Free scores by Luis de Milán at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
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 | 17 | 76.4th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 9 | 81.7th |
| Studio albums | 8 | 88.9th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 11 | 87.9th |
| Recording span (years) | -428 | 0.5th |
| Genres | 5 | 88.3th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (9 release groups · 8 studio albums)
Albums · 8
1989 · studio album
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Tracklist · 16 tracks · 50:44
1El Maestro, Tome I. Musica de vihuela de mano: Tonos 1 & 2: Fantasia XIII.1:542El Maestro, Tome I. Musica de vihuela de mano: Tonos 1 & 2: Pavana I.1:193El Maestro, Tome I. Musica de vihuela de mano: Tonos 1 & 2: Tento I.7:394El Maestro, Tome I. Musica de vihuela de mano: Tonos 1 & 2: Fantasia XI.3:175El Maestro, Tome I. Musica de vihuela de mano: Tonos 1 & 2: Fantasia X.2:196El Maestro, Tome I. Musica de vihuela de mano: Tonos 3 & 4: Fantasia XII.2:367El Maestro, Tome I. Musica de vihuela de mano: Tonos 3 & 4: Fantasia VIII.2:098El Maestro, Tome I. Musica de vihuela de mano: Tonos 3 & 4: Tento II.5:399El Maestro, Tome I. Musica de vihuela de mano: Tonos 5 & 6: Fantasia XVI.2:5310El Maestro, Tome I. Musica de vihuela de mano: Tonos 5 & 6: Pavana III.2:0611El Maestro, Tome I. Musica de vihuela de mano: Tonos 5 & 6: Fantasia XV.3:3812El Maestro, Tome I. Musica de vihuela de mano: Tonos 7 & 8: Fantasia XVIII.3:1213El Maestro, Tome I. Musica de vihuela de mano: Tonos 7 & 8: Pavana IV.1:5314El Maestro, Tome I. Musica de vihuela de mano: Tonos 7 & 8: Pavana V.1:2115El Maestro, Tome I. Musica de vihuela de mano: Tonos 7 & 8: Fantasia XXII.2:5216El Maestro, Tome I. Musica de vihuela de mano: Tento IV.5:571990 · studio album
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Tracklist · 16 tracks · 53:24
1El Maestro: Triste estava muy quexosa3:592El Maestro: Leuay me amor3:143El Maestro: Gentil mia donna2:034El Maestro: Al amor quiero vencer2:415El Maestro: Sospirastes Baldovinos4:596El Maestro: Agora viniesse un viento1:397El Maestro: Nova angeleta1:318El Maestro: Falai miña amor1:119El Maestro: Con pauor recordo5:1910El Maestro: Amor que tan bien sirviendo3:1511El Maestro: Madonna per voi ardo4:1012El Maestro: Quien amores ten2:4313El Maestro: Durandarte4:2914El Maestro: Perdida teñyo la color3:0415El Maestro: A quel cauallero madre5:4416El Maestro: O gelosia d'amanti3:23Fantasies, Pavanes & Gallardes
1995 · studio album
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Tracklist · 19 tracks · 1:03:13
1El Maestro: Pavana No. 1 (arr. Jordi Savall)2:462El Maestro: Gallarda No. 6 (arr. Jordi Savall)1:313El Maestro: Fantasia No. 11 (arr. psaltery Jordi Savall)3:494El Maestro: Fantasia No. 1 (arr. Jordi Savall)3:205El Maestro: Fantasia No. 5 (arr. harp Jordi Savall)2:336El Maestro: Pavana No. 3 (arr. Jordi Savall)2:577El Maestro: Gallarda No. 3 (arr. Jordi Savall)2:218El Maestro: Fantasia No. 19 (arr. harp Jordi Savall)4:269El Maestro: Fantasia No. 10 (arr. Jordi Savall)3:3910El Maestro: Fantasia No. 26 (arr. harp Jordi Savall)3:4311El Maestro: Pavana No. 2 (arr. Jordi Savall)2:1412El Maestro: Gallarda No. 2 (arr. Jordi Savall)1:5113El Maestro: Fantasia No. 8 (arr. Jordi Savall)2:2514El Maestro: Fantasia No. 40 (arr. harp Jordi Savall)4:2815El Maestro: Fantasia No. 12 (arr. Jordi Savall)4:2716El Maestro: Pavana No. 5 (arr. harp Jordi Savall)1:3417El Maestro: Fantasia No. 9 (arr. Jordi Savall)3:2518El Maestro: Tiento No. 1 (arr. harp Jordi Savall)7:4419El Maestro: Fantasia No. 38 (arr. Jordi Savall)4:001996 · studio album
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Tracklist · 20 tracks · 56:42
1El Maestro: Fantasia No. 102:072El Maestro: Fantasia No. 31:583El Maestro: Fantasia No. 52:084El Maestro: Fantasia No. 183:115El Maestro: Fantasia No. 72:196El Maestro: Fantasia No. 263:417El Maestro: Fantasia No. 353:118El Maestro: Fantasia No. 213:009El Maestro: Pavana No. 51:2110El Maestro: Tiento No. 15:5511Los seys líbros del Delphín de música: Fantasia del quinto tono2:1412Los seys líbros del Delphín de música: Fantasia No. 3 del tercer tono2:3013Los seys líbros del Delphín de música: Fantasia No. 2 del segundo tono3:1914Los seys líbros del Delphín de música: Fantasia del quinto tono2:0515Los seys líbros del Delphín de música: Cum sancto spiritu2:1416Los seys líbros del Delphín de música: Ya se asienta el rey Ramiro1:5917Los seys líbros del Delphín de música: Paseavase el rey Moro1:5718Los seys líbros del Delphín de música: Fantasia del primer tono1:4519Los seys líbros del Delphín de música: O gloriosa domina6:3820Los seys líbros del Delphín de música: Conde Claros3:101998 · studio album
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Tracklist · 27 tracks · 1:13:16
1Villancico: Poys dezéys que me quereys ben1:452Soneto: Amor, che nel mio pensier vive et regna2:333Romance: Triste estava, muy quexosa4:164Pavana (No. 1)2:175Villancico: Leváyme, amor, d'aquesta terra3:076Fantasia (No. 6)2:537Villancico: Agora viniesse un viento1:118Fantasia (No. 25)4:159Villancico: Aquel cavallero, madre4:1710Villancico: Amor, que tan bien sirviendo1:3711Villancico: Perdida teñyo la color2:2912Fantasia (No. 14)1:1413Fantasia (No. 12)2:2914Fantasia (No. 26)3:3615Villancico: Un cuydado que mía vida ten1:1116Villancico: Toda mi vida hos amé2:5017Soneta: Nova angeleta sovra l'ale accorta1:2918Fantasia (No. 31)4:1519Romance: Durandarte, Durandarte3:5020Villancico: Quien amores ten3:0121Villancico: Falai, miña amor, falaime0:5122Tentos (No. 4)5:0423Romance: Sospirastes, Baldovinos4:3424Soneto: Gentil mia donna, i' veggio1:5725Pavana (No. 6)1:2426Villancico: Sospiró una señora2:3027Villancico: Al Amor quiero vencer2:21Luys Milán: Fantasia: Renaissance Guitar & Vihuela
2003 · studio album
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Tracklist · 20 tracks · 1:03:53
1Pavana VI1:492Pavana V1:573Fantasia I3:164Pavana I3:105Fantasia X2:196Fantasia III4:167Fantasia XXII2:598Pavana IV2:029Tento6:1810Fantasia IV2:3211Pavana III3:0312Fantasia XVIII3:1513Fantasia XXXV3:3114Madonna per voi ardo4:1815Falai miña amor1:1316Fantasia XII4:3617Fantasia VIII4:2718Pavana II3:0119Fantasia XI3:0320Sospiraste Baldovinos2:482015 · studio album
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Tracklist · 28 tracks · 1:06:05
1Fantasia I. Tono 1. Compas apresurado1:422Fantasia II. Tono 1. Compas apresurado1:383Fantasia III. Tono 1. Compas algo apresurado1:594Fantasia IV. Tono 2. Compas apresurado1:195Fantasia V. Tono 2. Compas batido2:066Fantasia VI. Tonos 1 & 2. No tempo indication2:187Fantasia VII. Tono 3. Compas apresurado2:038Fantasia VIII. Tono 4. Compas apresurado2:059Fantasia IX. Tonos 3 & 4. Compas apresurado2:1410Fantasia X. Tonos 1 & 2. Las consonancias a espacio y los redobles apriesa3:1211Fantasia XI. Tonos 1 & 2. Las consonancias a espacio y los redobles apriesa3:0112Fantasia XII. Tonos 3 & 4. Las consonancias a espacio y los redobles apriesa2:3113Fantasia XIII. Tono 1. Las consonancias a espacio y los redobles apriesa1:4514Fantasia XIV. Tonos 4 & 3. Las consonancias a espacio y los redobles apriesa1:2315Fantasia XV. Tonos 5 & 6. Las consonancias a espacio y los redobles apriesa3:2416Fantasia XVI. Tonos 5 & 6. Las consonancias a espacio y los redobles apriesa2:4917Fantasia XVII. Tonos 5 & 6. Las consonancias a espacio y los redobles apriesa2:3718Fantasia XVIII. Tonos 7 & 8. Las consonancias a espacio y los redobles apriesa3:1219Fantasia XIX. Tono 5. [No tempo indication]3:5620Fantasia XX. Tono 6. [No tempo indication]4:0221Fantasia XXI. Tono 7. [No tempo indication]2:3922Fantasia XXII. Tono 8. Ni muy a espacio ni muy apriesa2:5223Pavana I. Tonos 1 & 2. Compas algo apresurado2:1824Pavana II. Tonos 3 & 4. Compas algo apresurado2:4025Pavana III. Tonos 5 & 6. Compas algo apresurado2:0426Pavana IV. Tonos 7 & 8. Compas algo apresurado2:0427Pavana V. Tono 8. “La bella Franceschina”. Compas algo apresurado0:4928Pavana VI. Tono 8. Compas algo apresurado1:232020 · studio album
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Tracklist · 18 tracks · 59:30
1Fantaisie 153:192Fantaisie 162:393Tiento 16:254Fantaisie 212:515Fantaisie 223:036Tiento 24:577Fantaisie 353:018Fantaisie 364:309Tiento 34:4210Fantaisie 394:1511Fantaisie 404:0012Tiento 44:3413Pavane 12:1614Pavane 23:2515Pavane 31:3116Pavane 41:5417Pavane 50:4618Pavane 61:22
Album · 1
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Julian Bream Edition, Volume 23: Music of Spain, Milán / NarváezSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 21 tracks · 56:481El maestro: Pavana I1:45 2El maestro: Pavana V1:28 3El maestro: Pavana VI2:17 4El maestro: Fantasía XII2:45 5El maestro: Fantasía VIII3:13 6El maestro: Fantasía IX2:13 7El maestro: Tento I7:37 8El maestro: Pavana IV1:50 9El maestro: Fantasía XVI3:17 10Los seys libros del Delphín de Música, Book 1: Fantasía V2:20 11Los seys libros del Delphín de Música, Book 2: Fantasía V1:14 12Los seys libros del Delphín de Música, Book 3: La canción del emperador3:27 13Los seys libros del Delphín de Música, Book 2: Fantasía VI1:06 14Los seys libros del Delphín de Música, Book 5: Arde coraçon arde1:21 15Los seys libros del Delphín de Música, Book 5: Ya se asiente el Rey Ramiro2:03 16Los seys libros del Delphín de Música, Book 4: O gloriosa Domina (seys diferencias)7:28 17Los seys libros del Delphín de Música, Book 6: Conde Claros2:38 18Los seys libros del Delphín de Música, Book 6: Guárdame las vacas2:49 19Los seys libros del Delphín de Música, Book 6: Tres diferencias por otra parte2:31 20Los seys libros del Delphín de Música, Book 6: Baxa de contrapunto1:25 21Fantasía2:01 | Compilation | 1993 |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Luis de Milán head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 17 | 76.4th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 9 | 81.7th |
| Studio albums | 8 | 88.9th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 11 | 87.9th |
| Recording span (years) | -428 | 0.5th |
| Genres | 5 | 88.3th |
Awards & honours
Where this record comes from
aliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/98c5c9bd-6add-4a5c-92cd-dfde0cfa2a0cdiscography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/98c5c9bd-6add-4a5c-92cd-dfde0cfa2a0ccore—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q706495seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_de_Mil%C3%A1nbiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_de_Mil%C3%A1n
Why this artist is in the database
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Wikidata: Q706495 · MusicBrainz: 98c5c9bd-6add-4a5c-92cd-dfde0cfa2a0c