Sebastián de Vivanco, born around 1551 in Ávila, is considered one of the composers of the Spanish Golden Age. A priest and composer of the Renaissance, he died on October 26, 1622, in Salamanca. After holding important positions at various cathedrals, he eventually received a prestigious appointment in Salamanca, where he also taught at the university.
Between 1607 and 1610, the Flemish printer Artus Taberniel, then the official printer of the University of Salamanca, published three important works by Vivanco. This collection likely comprises pieces selected by the composer himself, spanning over 40 years of his creative output.
The Liber magnificarum, published in 1607, is considered his most important work and contains 18 Magnificat settings on 270 pages in choral format. The title page depicts the composer kneeling before a crucifix. A year later, the Libro de misas (Book of Masses) followed, containing ten masses, including the Missa Assumpsit Jesus for five voices and several four-part works. In 1610, the Libro de motetes (Book of Motets) was published, of which two incomplete copies survive in the cathedrals of Salamanca and Segovia.
Vivanco was particularly distinguished by the complexity and inventiveness of his canons, in which he even surpassed his famous contemporary and compatriot, Tomás Luis de Victoria. A master of counterpoint, he composed outstanding masses and Magnificats. His polyphony followed the Franco-Flemish style then prevalent in Europe, a style shaped by composers such as Josquin Desprez, Lassus, and Byrd.