Didacus [Diego, Jacomo] Vasquez {Sixtus V- Paul V}
Soprano castrato; Cuenca; admitted 27 May 1587 along with Juan Santos without examination on the order of Cardinal Azzolino, but did not begin serving until 18 May 1588; DS lists of 1588-1590 ; retired on 17 April, 1610 .
There is some confusion about this singer's first name, but the evidence suggests that the "Jacomo Spagnoletto eunoco" who was admitted in May 1588 according to the DS and the "Jacomo Vasches" mentioned in the entry in VatS 625 must be identical with the Diego Vaschez who appears in the DS lists of 1588-1590. Apparently he had to wait a year from the date of his official admission to the point when a position actually opened up in the choir when Jacques Brunet returned to his canonry in France in May 1588 (see Brunet) before he could really become a member of the choir; this probably because the singers were strictly observing the rule promulgated by Sixtus V that the choir could not exceed 21 members.
DOCUMENTS
DS 16
13r: entry dated 27 May 1587
See Santos.
28v: entry dated 18 May 1588
M. Jacomo Spagoletto eunuco ha cominciato a servire in loco di M. Jacomo Brunetto franzese.
28v: entry dated 20 May 1588
M. Jacomo Spagnoletto ha pagato l'introito che son 15 scudi et e toccato otto giulii et tre quatrini per homo.
VatS 625
1v: entry dated 18 May 1588
a dì 18 Maggio 1588
Jacomo Vasches entrò nel numero de participanti il sopradetto giorno nel loco qual era M. Jacomo Brunetto il quale è andato in Francia alla residenza del suo canonicato.
[Signature] Ita est Fran.cus de Soto Magister Cappelle
[Signature] Ita est D. Petrus B. Decanus
BIBLIOGRAPHY: CELANI, pp. 761, 762.