As a dramatist, poet and composer Encina served the court of the Duke of Alba and the Spanish papacy in Rome under Alexander VI, followed by service under Leo X. With his abilities in combination Encina wrote most of the words and music to his villancicos -- the dominant genre of his music -- and stage plays. If he was the first Spanish composer to write and score dramatic pieces for the stage, then it can be easily understood why some would describe him as the originator of Spanish theatre. Many of his plays were sacred dramas for religious holidays but some were passionate romances. Some of his works were contained in collections which he presented to the Duke and Duchess of Alba ("Cancionero") and some were contained in an anthology presented to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. The flow of Encina's music was placid via homorhythmic meters and his harmonies were solid progressions with a keen sense toward pathos, sentiment and mood. ~ Keith Johnson