Leonora Duarte

Leonora Duarte (1610 – 1678?) was a Baroque Flemish composer and musician, born in Antwerp. She belonged to a wealthy Portuguese-Jewish family who were major patrons of the arts and music. She was baptized into the Catholic faith on 28 July 1610. Duarte composed seven sinfonias which are the only known pieces of music written for viol by a woman in the 17th century.

Life Family Leonora Duarte's paternal grandparents, Diego Duarte I (c. 1544-1626) and Leonora Rodrigues (c.1565-1632) originally lived in Lisbon, Portugal until they were forced to flee during the Portuguese Inquisition. They most likely arrived in Antwerp around the year 1571. Practicing Judaism in Antwerp was illegal, so the family became conversos, meaning they outwardly acted as Catholics while secretly maintaining their Jewish faith and practices.

Leonora was the first-born child of Gaspar Duarte (c.1584-1653) and Catharina Rodrigues (1584-1644), and she had three sisters and two brothers; Diego II (1612-1691), Catharina (1614-1678), Gaspar II (1616-c.1685), Francisca (1619-1678), and Isabella (1620-1685).

In addition to his business in jewels, Gaspar and Diego were also heavily involved in the collection, trading, and commissioning of art.

Growing up as converso in her family’s home, there seemed to be an interesting balance of Leonora's understanding her identity, both as a Jewish woman at core, but also as a Jewish woman composer during the Baroque period. On one hand, conversos were closely observed, while on the other hand, it seems her family, especially her father, made it be known that regardless of their practices, their family was successful and otherwise great patrons of the arts and culture.

Early life Duarte received a superb musical education that included instruction on viol, virginals, and lute, as well as lessons in composition. She was familiar with the music and styles of both English composers such as John Bull (1562/63-1628) and those from Continental Europe, as well as local Flemish music.

The entirety of the Duarte family was trained in music, as evidenced by visitor Captain William Swann (1619-1678), who described his evening in the Duarte home, For Monsieur de Warty [sic] and his daughters I have heard to the fulle. Indeed they make a fyne consort and harmony for luts, viols, virginals and voyces. I doubt not but you will fynde great contentment by hearing them. thumb Seven Sinfonias for five viols (page 33 of the manuscript Oxford, Christ Church College, Mus. ms. 429)Her father, Gaspar, likely wrote out the titles of each Sinfonia, yet we do not know who copied the music. Given the frequency with which women were tasked with music copying, it is possible that Leonora copied the works, herself.

The manuscripts for the Sinfonias are held at the Christ Church College Library at Oxford University, although for many years they were mistakenly catalogued as being composed by "Leon Duarte."