Franchinus Gaffurius

Franchinus Gaffurius (January 14, 1451 – June 25, 1522) was an Italian music theorist and composer of the Renaissance. He was an almost exact contemporary of Josquin Des Prez and Leonardo da Vinci, the latter of whom was a personal friend. He was one of the most famous musicians in Italy in the late 15th and early 16th centuries.

Music

Gaffurius wrote masses, motets, settings of the Magnificat, and hymns, mainly during his Milan years. Some of the motets were written for ceremonial occasions for his ducal employer; many of the masses show the influence of Josquin, and all are in flowing Netherlandish polyphony, though with an admixture of Italian lightness and melody. His music was collected in four codices under his own direction.

Related Topics:
Mass - Motet - Magnificat - Hymn - Polyphony

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~