Josquin Des Prez

Josquin Des Prez

Life

Little is known for certain of his early life. Much is inferential and speculative, though numerous clues have emerged from his works and the writings of contemporary composers, theorists, and writers of the next several generations. Josquin was possibly born either in Hainaut, Belgium, or immediately across the border in France (possibly in Tournai, which is now also in Belgium), since several times in his life he was classified legally as a Frenchman (for instance, when he made his will). Josquin was long mistaken for a man with a similar name, Josquin de Kessalia, born around 1440, who sang in Milan from 1459 to 1474, dying in 1498. More recent scholarship has shown that Josquin des Prez was born around 1450 or a few years later, and did not go to Italy until the early 1480s. According to the article "Josquin des Prez", by Lora Matthews and Paul Merkley, in The Journal Of Musicology, Summer 1998, "des Prez" was a nickname, and Josquin?s family name was "Lebloitte".

Related Topics:
Hainaut - Belgium - France - 1440 - Milan - 1459 - 1474 - 1450 - 1480s

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According to 17th century records, he became a choir boy in the collegiate church of Saint-Quentin at an early age, probably around 1460, and may have studied counterpoint under Ockeghem, whom he greatly admired throughout his life (on Ockeghem's death in 1497 he wrote the impressive motet La Déploration sur la mort Ockeghem, based on the poem by Guillaume Crétin). All records from Saint-Quentin were destroyed in 1669; however the cathedral there was a center of music-making for the entire area, and in addition was an important center of royal patronage. Both Jean Mouton and Loyset Compère were buried there, and it is certainly possible that Josquin acquired his later connections with the French royal chapel through early experiences at Saint-Quentin.

Related Topics:
17th century - Saint-Quentin - 1460 - Ockeghem - 1497 - Guillaume Crétin - 1669 - Jean Mouton - Loyset Compère

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In 1477, the first definite record of his employment shows that he was a singer at the chapel of René, Duke of Anjou, in Aix-en-Provence; he may have transferred to Paris in 1481 along with the rest of the chapel, though there is no specific evidence of this. From 1486 to 1494 (except the year 1487-1488, which he may have spent in Florence), Josquin was a member of the papal choir under Pope Innocent VIII. In the later 1490s he was in France, probably in the service of Louis XII for most of the time, and he likely stayed there until 1503, when Duke Ercole I of Ferrara hired him for the chapel there; so Josquin returned to Italy.

Related Topics:
Aix-en-Provence - 1486 - 1494 - 1487 - 1488 - Florence - Pope Innocent VIII - 1490s - France - Louis XII - 1503 - Duke Ercole I - Ferrara

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In Ferrara Josquin wrote the exquisite Missa Hercules Dux Ferrariae, which is written on a cantus firmus derived from the musical letters in the Duke's name. While there he also wrote a setting of the Miserere, Psalm 50, for five voices, widely acknowledged to be one of his masterpieces.

Related Topics:
Cantus firmus - Miserere

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Josquin only stayed in Ferrara for a year, departing in 1504, possibly fleeing an outbreak of the plague (the Duke, his family, and two thirds of the citizens fled as well). His position at Ferrara was filled by Jacob Obrecht in 1505, who died of the plague that year, and by Antoine Brumel in 1506, who stayed until the disbanding of the chapel in 1510. Josquin went directly from Ferrara to his home region of Condé, southeast of Lille on the present-day border between Belgium and France, becoming provost of the cathedral there. During this time he had immense fame, and although he was well known to the Netherlands court and his works were often performed there, no direct connection to them has been discovered by researchers. He remained at Condé until his death in 1521.

Related Topics:
1504 - Plague - Jacob Obrecht - 1505 - Antoine Brumel - 1506 - 1510 - Lille

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