LIFE
-c 1440-1521
-very influential in Franco-Flemish school
-born in France, career in Italy
-1459-72 singer in Milan cathedral
-1486-94 music master at papal chapel in Rome (Sistine Chapel at Vatican)
-spent middle years in various Italian cities as a highly sought master of music
-wealthy patrons as well as prestigious church employment
-picked up southern Europe styles, spread northern polyphonic style
-1501-21 Later life in France
-very influential in Franco-Flemish school
-born in France, career in Italy
-1459-72 singer in Milan cathedral
-1486-94 music master at papal chapel in Rome (Sistine Chapel at Vatican)
-spent middle years in various Italian cities as a highly sought master of music
-wealthy patrons as well as prestigious church employment
-picked up southern Europe styles, spread northern polyphonic style
-1501-21 Later life in France
STYLE
-developed principal motet form (text in Latin, taken from mass liturgy or Bible), and established motet as a leading genre
-developed technique of systematic imitation based on word-generated motifs (not random polyphony), incorporated imitative style of his motets into the chansons, master of canonic writing and imitative counterpoint
-modal harmonies mixed with triadic 3rds and 6ths and dissonance
-one of the first composers to make music a personal expression of art (humanistic writing style, valued emotion over intellect)
-increased musicality of melodies by attempting to express meaning of words better, use of syllabic text setting to emphasize key words and word painting
-developed technique of systematic imitation based on word-generated motifs (not random polyphony), incorporated imitative style of his motets into the chansons, master of canonic writing and imitative counterpoint
-modal harmonies mixed with triadic 3rds and 6ths and dissonance
-one of the first composers to make music a personal expression of art (humanistic writing style, valued emotion over intellect)
-increased musicality of melodies by attempting to express meaning of words better, use of syllabic text setting to emphasize key words and word painting
WORKS
-18 masses including Missa L'homme armé (Armed Man mass)
- ~100 motets
- ~70 secular songs in both French (chansons including Mille Regrets) and Italian
- ~100 motets
- ~70 secular songs in both French (chansons including Mille Regrets) and Italian