About
Safford Cape (28 June 1906 – 26 March 1973) was an American conductor, composer and musicologist.
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Born and educated in Denver, Colorado, Cape moved to Belgium in 1925 to further his studies in composition and musicology. From 1933, after a few years of chamber music composition, Cape began focusing on the performance of medieval and Renaissance music. To this end, he founded and conducted the Pro Musica Antiqua of Brussels, an ensemble specialising on music from the medieval and Renaissance periods. This group toured throughout Europe and the Americas and produced many recordings. Cape's work inspired Noah Greenberg to form a similar ensemble in America, the New York Pro Musica which was recorded first by EMS Recordings.
For health reasons, Cape retired in 1967 and died in Brussels six years later.
Discography
Albums
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Music of the 12th & 13th Centuries: Anthology of Middle Age and Renaissance Music vol.1
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Spanish Music from the Court of Ferdinand and Isabella (circa 1500)
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Le Jeu de Robin et Marion - 13 Rondeaux / 17 Danses du 13e et 14e Siècle
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The 4 & 5 Part Masses
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Madrigale e Caccie from the Codex of Antonio Squarcialupi / Five Sacred Songs
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9 Chansons / 16 Danserye
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12 Balletti / 7 Chansons
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The First Book of Ayres
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Motets / 5 Chansons
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Chansons et Motets du 13e Siècle / 2 Organa
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La Messe de Nostre Dame / 10 Weltliche Werke
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Missa Pange Lingua / 8 Weltlische Werke
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Music at the Burgundian Court, 1430-1500
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French Chansons and Dances of the 16th Century
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Secular Works
EPs
Singles
Links
Buy
Founder
Identifiers
- MusicBrainz
- 8af13dc3-9d00-4a09-9e52-2d2c3e96c071
- ISNI
- 0000000109028585
- IPI
- 00005087802
Data from MusicBrainz, saved 13 Nov 2026. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, covers from the Cover Art Archive and Apple Music.