Gabriel Mena

In the year 1511 Gabriel Mena was serving in the court of Ferdinand V of Aragon as a singer in the court chapel. It is possible that Mena and Texerana, who was a member of the court musicians as early as 1500, were one and the same person. By 1516 Mena was serving Fadrique Enriquez the Admiral of Castile. Nineteen villancicos by Mena are extant in a later collection and at least two of these compositions contain folk elements. As a poet and musician Mena was thought to be a person of considerable talent and sensitivity.