Josquin Des Prez and The Renaissance Era

1. Josquin Des Prez and The Renaissance Era By Mackenzie Morean Missa Ave Maris Stella Missa Hercules Dux Ferrariae Miserere Mei Deus Virgo Salutiferi

2. Josquin Des Prez Basic Facts Issues With I.D. Almost nothing is known of Desprez’s past (especially his early life) and personality. A man named Josquin de Kessalia was born around the same time and confused historians. His real name was Josquinde Kessalia and in addition to changing his last name, he frequently switched spellings He became so critically acclaimed and popular during his lifetime that after his death people began to publish pieces under his name to boost sales. • Born: 1450 in the County of Hainaut, Belgium • Died: August 27, 1521, in Conde-sur-l’Escaut, France • Known For: One of the first masters of polyphonic Renaissance style music • Over 370 pieces attributed to him • He found work at a chapel in Milan and Rome, sang for King Louis XII of France, in the court of the d’Estes in Ferrara, and lastly in the area of Conde until his death. • Little is known about his early life until about beginning of 1480 when he moved to Italy. During a restorative project at the Sistine Chapel, "JOSQUINJ” was found carved into the walls and is believed to be his graffitied autograph.

3. Josquin Des Prez Life 1450: Born 1460: Des Prez sings as a choirboy in Saint-Quentin 1466: Josquin'sfather passed away 1477: He was appointed to a chapel in Aix-en-Provence 1480: Relocation to Italy 1483 - 1484: Served Sforza family in Milan 1489 - 1495: Served in the papal choir 1503 - 1504: Employed at the court of the Duke Ercole I d'Este of Ferrara 1504: Moved to Conde-sur-l'Escautin France and made the Provost of the collegiate church of Notre 1521: Death (August 27)

4. Josquin Des Prez Musical Style • He embodies the French and Netherlands style of music from the Renaissance period, including the polyphonic style of Northern France, Southern liveliness, and the subtlety of the Franco-Flemish school he was influenced by. He wrote mainly pieces for four people where two pairs of people exchange parts in an interlocking fashion. He wrote “parody masses” where he borrowed and changed things from earlier pieces. • His works were directly studied for at least a century after his death and influenced both the following Baroque and Classical periods. • His last two pieces are considered his best. • He composed both sacred and secular pieces in French and Italian: chansons, 8 masses, many motets, frottole, a lament mourning the death of a fellow composer and notably a chanson that imitates a cricket.

5. Sources • http://www.allmusic.com/artist/josquin-desprez-mn0001349420/biography • http://www.medieval.org/emfaq/composers/josquin.html • http://www.naxos.com/person/_Josquin_des_Prez/22586.htm • http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi1166.htm • http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/josquin-desprez-432.php • https://www.sfcv.org/learn/composer-gallery/josquin-des-prez • http://www.classical.net/music/comp.lst/josquin.php

6. The Renaissance Basic Facts Forms Chansons Motets Masses Madragals Laudes Frottola Various forms of instrumental genres • Time Period: 1400–1600 • Area: Europe after the Medieval Era • Came about with the rise of the pursuit of knowledge, the rediscovery of the treasures of ancient Greece and Rome, the increase in economy and with Reformation • Early violin, keyboard, and guitar-type instruments were born and reed instruments, lutes, viols, and virginials were popular • Range increased, rhythm, harmony, and form were introduced and explored • Musicians were highly sought after and the first printed music was seen • Cathedrals and churches produced hundreds of composers and musicians

7. The Renaissance Chansons Motets A short piece of music for a chorus that is religion-based, polyphonic, and usually unaccompanied by instruments It comes from a Latin word meaning ‘to move’ It usually had a plainchant melody by a tenor voice with one to three other melodies repeating in short rhythmic sets. • Basically any French song with lyrics that is (usually) secular and polyphonic in nature • (That means more than one melody versus a lot of people singing one melody or a lot of people singing harmonies and not religiously based) • Many types including de geste, courtoise, Parisian, Burgundian

8. The Renaissance Masses Madrigals We already know that ;) • A sacred polyphonic choral composition • May or may not be accompanied, but must have six sections to be a true mass. • Sections respectively are Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus, and Agnus Dei • These sections introduce the piece, praise god, pray, praise the Trinity, continues the praise of the Trinity, and sets the Lamb of God Litany • The polyphonic parts could be arranged in canon • Showcased artistic ability since the piece was so long and complex (20-30 minutes)

9. The Renaissance Lauda Frottola Italian secular song with four voice parts with no accompaniment or one voice with instruments Was a blend of other sub-genres like the oda, capitolo, sonnet, and canzone Developed from a light style into a more profound, somber, and serious genre as it transitioned into the madrigal Was the most popular at the end of the fifteenth century and beginning of the the sixteenth century • Also spelled laude • It means “hymn of praise” in Italian • Was originally monophonic, but developed into polyphonic by the Renaissance period • They were first seen in the 13th century

10. Sources • http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/renm/hd_renm.htm • http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Motet.html • http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/393896/motet • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_(music)#I._Kyrie • http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/332205/lauda • https://bu.digication.com/theemergenceofthemadrigalin16thcenturyitaly/Transition_from_frottola_to_madrigal • https://files.nyu.edu/lga2/public/Renaissance%20Nutshell/Renaissance%20Nutshell/Renaissance%20in%20a%20Nutshell.html