1556 in music

Events

• June – At a Corpus Christi procession in Pátzcuaro, Morelia, Mexico, the earliest extant zarabanda was sung.
• Orlande de Lassus joins the court of Albrecht V, Duke of Bavaria.

Publications

• Julien Belin – Premier livre contenant Plusieurs motets, chansons, et Fantasies, a collection of intabulations for the lute
• Pierre Cadéac – Mass for four voices
• Jacob Clemens non Papa
• *First book of masses: Missa Misericorde for four voices, possibly published posthumously
• *Fifth book of motets for five voices, possibly published posthumously
• *Souterliedekens I, II, & III for three voices, settings of Psalms in Dutch, possibly published posthumously
• Jhan Gero – Second book of madrigals for three voices
• Claude Gervaise, ed. – Third book of dances for four instruments
• Philibert Jambe de Fer – Epitome musical, des tons, sons, et accordz...Violes & violons
• Clément Janequin – Premier livre contenant plusieurs chansons spirituelles
• Orlande de Lassus – First book of motets for five and six voices
• Pierre de Manchicourt – Missa Quo abiit dilectus tuus for four voices
• Annibale Padovano – First book of ricercars for four voices, a collection of vocal partsongs

Births

• February 21 – Sethus Calvisius, German theorist and composer
• June – Pomponio Nenna, Neapolitan Italian composer
• August 10 – Philipp Nicolai, German pastor and composer
• December 17 – Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana, composer and a minister of the Mughal emperor Akbar

Deaths

• March 4 – Leonhard Kleber, German organist
• May 7 – Hieronymus Andreae, German printer of music, amongst other things
• June 10 – Martin Agricola, German theorist and composer