1556 in music
# 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 (Paris: Nicolas du Chemin), a collection of intabulations for the lute
* Pierre Cadéac – Mass for four voices (Paris: Nicolas du Chemin)
* Jacob Clemens non Papa
   * First book of masses: Missa Misericorde for four voices (Leuven: Pierre Phalèse), possibly published posthumously
   * Fifth book of motets for five voices (Paris: Simon du Bosc), possibly published posthumously
   * Souterliedekens I, II, & III for three voices (Antwerp: Tielman Susato), settings of Psalms in Dutch, possibly published posthumously
* Jhan Gero – Second book of madrigals for three voices (Venice: Antonio Gardano)
* Claude Gervaise, ed. – Third book of dances for four instruments (Paris: widow of Pierre Attaingnant)
* Philibert Jambe de Fer – Epitome musical, des tons, sons, et accordz...Violes & violons
* Clément Janequin – Premier livre contenant plusieurs chansons spirituelles (Paris: Le Roy & Ballard)
* Orlande de Lassus – First book of motets for five and six voices (Antwerp: Johann Laet)
* Pierre de Manchicourt – Missa Quo abiit dilectus tuus for four voices (Paris: Nicolas du Chemin)
* Annibale Padovano – First book of ricercars for four voices (Venice: Antonio Gardano), a collection of vocal partsongs

## Births

* February 21 – Sethus Calvisius, German theorist and composer (died 1615)
* June – Pomponio Nenna, Neapolitan Italian composer (died 1608)
* August 10 – Philipp Nicolai, German pastor and composer (died 1608)
* December 17 – Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana, composer and a minister of the Mughal emperor Akbar (died 1627)

## Deaths

* March 4 – Leonhard Kleber, German organist (born 1495)
* May 7 – Hieronymus Andreae (alias Formschneider), German printer of music, amongst other things
* June 10 – Martin Agricola, German theorist and composer (born 1486)
