A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Pevernage, Andreas

by James Robert Sterndale-Bennett

PEVERNAGE, Andreas, born in the year 1543,^[1] at Courtrai, in Flanders. He held an appointment in his native town until his marriage,^[2] June 15, 1574, and soon after moved to Antwerp as choirmaster in the cathedral. There he led an active life, composing, editing, and giving weekly performances at his house of the best native and foreign music. He died at the age of 48, and was buried in the cathedral. Sweertius^[3] describes him as 'vir ad modestiam factus, et totus candidus, quæ in Musico mireris, quibus cum leviusculis notis annata levitas videtur.' The same author gives the following epitaph:—

M. Andræ Pevernagio
Musico excellenti
Hujus ecclesiæ phonasco
et Mariæ filiæ
Maria Haecht vidua et FF. M. poss.
Obierunt Hic XXX Julii. Aetat XLVIII.
Ilia II Feb. Aetat XII. MDLXXXIX.

Fétis mentions 5 books of chansons and 1 book of sacred motets, published in the composer's lifetime, and 5 masses and a book of motets for the chief church festivals, as posthumous. The British Museum contains 1 book of chansons, and 2 imperfect copies of the 'Harmonia Celeste,' a collection of madrigals edited by Pevernage, in which 7 of his own pieces appear. In addition to these Eitner^[4] mentions 16 detached pieces in various collections of the time. Two pieces have been printed in modern type—an ode to S. Cecilia, 'O virgo^[5] generosa,' composed for the inauguration of his house concerts,^[6] and a 9-part Gloria in excelsis.'^[7]

[ J. R. S.-B. ]

1. 'Master A. Pevernage … died July 30, 1591, about half-past four in the afternoon, after five weeks' illness.' (See note discovered by H. de Burbure in Antwerp Cathedral books.) Thus the last two letters of the date in the epitaph have changed places; It should stand mdlxxxxi. He died at the age of 48, which fixes the date of his birth.
2. Paquot's 'Histoire litteraire des Pays-has,' Tom. 9, p. 331 (Louvain. 1767). The author gives a reference, 'Franc. Hœml poemata ed. 1578, p. 239, 240, oû il y a deux Eplthalames: In nuptias Andreæ Pevernage, apud Cortracenses Symphonasci, et Marise Mæges viduæ, 17 cal. julli, anno 1574.'
3. 'Athenæ Belgicæ,' Antwerp, 1628 (Brit. Mus. 11901 k). Both the year of death and the name of Pevernage's wife are probably incorrect. See notes 1 and 2.
4. Bibliographie.
5. Commer—'Collectio op. musicorum Batav.' Vol. viii (Berlin Trautwein).
6. Ambros, 'Geschichte,' iii. 316.
7. Cæcilia, von Oberhoffer, Luxemburg, 1863, No. 7.