Other Hymeneals composed by De Castro

Apart from the ceremonial song for the wedding of his future Düsseldorf patron, De Castro's volume of 1586 with five-part chansons contained three other hymeneals (epitalamia): one for the Antwerp merchant David Scolier and Johanna Selosse, one for the Cologne politician Paul Stor, and one for the Brussels Judge Advocate of Philip II, Louis Verreyken and his bride Louise Micault.

A decade later De Castro would be asked to write another official hymeneal; in 1597 prince Philip, the later King Philip III of Spain was to marry his fiancée Gregoria Maximiliana, Princess of Austria. Possibly De Castro obtained the commission through the mediation of Ernst of Bavaria, the Archbishop of Cologne who was a relative of Gregoria, and who knew De Castro who was then living in Cologne.

Philip III

Gregoria of Austria

Music Fragment 3

Chant Musicale. Sur les nopces du serenissime prince Don Philippe, prince d'Espaigne, et de la serenissime princesse, Gregoria Maximiliana, princesse d'Austrice son espouse.

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The chanson appeared in Cologne in 1597 as a separate publication at the printing house of Gerhard Grevenbruch.

The chanson would never be executed on the wedding of Philip and Gregoria: Gregoria died in 1597 shortly before the marriage would take place. Two years later Philip married Margaretha, Gregoria's sister.