Geert van Turnhout (c.1520 – 15 September 1580) was a Flemish composer, who became master of the Flemish chapel (capilla flamenca)

Flemish chapel (capilla flamenca)

The Flemish chapel was one of two choirs employed by Philip II of Spain, the other being the Spanish chapel .- La Grande Chapelle :...

 in Spain.

He was born in Turnhout. He had a younger brother, also a composer, Jan van Turnhout.
Turnhout was employed first at Antwerp, then at the Church of St Gummarus, Lier, Belgium

Lier, Belgium

Lier is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the city of Lier proper and the village of Koningshooikt. On January 1, 2010 Lier had a total population of 33,930. The total area is 49.70 km² which gives a population density of 669 inhabitants per...

, (maître de chapelle 1559), then in 1562 back to the Cathedral of Our Lady (Antwerp) where he was made maître de chant in 1563. On 2 May 1571 Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba

Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba

Don Fernando Álvarez de Toledo y Pimentel, 3rd Duke of Alba was a Spanish general and governor of the Spanish Netherlands , nicknamed "the Iron Duke" in the Low Countries because of his harsh and cruel rule there and his role in the execution of his political opponents and the massacre of several...

 engaged Turnhout as maestro de capilla of the Capilla Flamenca Philip II of Spain

Philip II of Spain

Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....

 in Madrid to succeed Jean de Bonmarché

Jean de Bonmarché

Jean de Bonmarché was a composer of the Franco-Flemish school.Bonmarché was born in Douai. He became dean of Lille Cathedral, then in 1560 master of the choirboys at Old Cambrai Cathedral...

. Turnhout arrived in Madrid with a group of singers from the Low Countries. He remained there until his death, when he was succeeded by George de La Hèle

George de La Hèle

George de La Hèle was a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance, mainly active in the Habsburg chapels of Spain and the Low Countries. Among his surviving music is a book of eight masses, some for as many as eight voices...

.

Works

• Missa ‘O Maria vernans rosa’ a 5 1570
• Sacrarum ac aliarum cantonum a 3 (Leuven, 1569): 20 motets, 20 chansons Dedicated to Adrian Dyck, notary of Antwerp, it includes a dedicatory motet to Phillip II.
• 3 motets, 10 chansons, 2 voices, 1571
• 4 Dutch songs, 4-5 voices 1572
• 5 French sacred songs, 3 voices, in 1577

Discography

• chanson: En regardant on Musicians of the Chapelle de Bourgogne dir. Bernardin Van Eeckhout, L'Oiseau-Lyre OL 50 104 (LP, mono)
• Jerusalem luge and 2 chansons: Craint' et espoir. Dueil, double dueil on Leal Amour: Flemish Composers at the Court of Philip II Turnhout, Hèle, Rogier, Gombert, Payen, Manchicourt, Egidius Kwartet Etcetera 1218
• 2 chansons: Je prens en gré la dure mort. Jouÿsance vous donneray on Philippe Rogier
  Philippe Rogier
  Philippe Rogier was a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance, active at the Habsburg court of Philip II in Spain...
  
   en Spanje Capella Sancti Michaelis & Currende Consort dir. Erik Van Nevel
  Erik Van Nevel
  Erik Van Nevel is a Belgian conductor. He is the nephew of Paul Van Nevel.He pursued instrumental and vocal studies at the Lemmensinstituut in Leuven and at the Koninklijk Conservatorium and the Koninklijk Conservatorium ....
  
  Eufoda 1161 (1993).