In the province of Hainaut, Belgium around 1440, Josquin Desprez was born. His first dominant position he held was to become choirmaster to Duke Ercole I of Ferrara. This is the time where he began to write most of his music. He received musical training at Cambrai, France and was now putting it to good use. He wrote motets, chansons, masses, a handful of instrumental pieces, and Italian frottole's (part song's). In April of 1505, at the duke's death, Josquin became provost of the collegiate church of Notre Dame in Conde. He lived the rest of his life there until he died at Conde-sur-l'Escaut on August 27, 1521.
Josquin wrote 100 motets throughout his lifetime. In 49 of the motets he used a plainsong melody. His masses and early motets were essentially in four parts, he did write five and six part motets as well, but they were less common. One early four part motet Victimae paschali laudes(1502) exemplifies his early style with dense texture and lack of imitation. His early motets were very plain with not much rhythmic movement. As he wrote more and more, Josquin developed a greater maturity in his music. The more he wrote the better each piece was. It is noticeable to the listener that each motet, for instance, becomes more involved and advanced. Homophony and imitative passages began to be recognized in his works an example being Planxit autem David. Absalon, fili mi, another example also began to show his new style along with interesting texture combinations. Later motets, such as In principio erat verbum, combines motivic intensity which was lacking before and melodic succinctness with formal clarity (Sadie). These motets were either freely composed, four-part settings of biblical texts, or large scale cantus firmus pieces. Josquin's motet style characterized the 16th century after him (Britannica). Something else Josquin elaborated on was the use of six voices in his motets. His subtle variation of texture is used to achieve a maximum of expression. Josquin began to pave the way to the modern sense of tonality, through both his motets and his masses.
Josquin wrote twenty masses that have survived complete. Of those twenty , seventeen were printed in his lifetime in three sets (1502, 1505, 1514) by Ottaviano dei Petrucci. His masses combine elements of cantus firmus, parody, and paraphrase techniques(Sadie). One of his earliest masses, L'ami Baudichon, is a cantus firmus mass on a simple dance formula. His masses recall the Burgundian style of the 1450's and 1460's because of his simple use of melody and rhythm and the clarity of harmony and texture. Some forms which Josquin used in the chants within his masses were antiphons and sequences.
Seventy French chansons were written by Josquin. In his chansons, Josquin was the primary exponent of a new style in the mid 15th century. Secular songs began to apply canon and counterpoint techniques. This was a new concept which previous composers tried, but had trouble accomplishing. Josquin went one step further in his own direction and decided not to use the traditional rondo and ballad forms. Though few of his chansons are set chordally rather than polyphonically, many others are great examples of five and six voice counterpoint, which are straightforward, maintain sharp rhythms, and a clear texture (Britannica).
Josquin's music influenced many people. Adriaan Petit Coclicus, who was one of Josquin's students, published a method in 1552 entitled Compandium musices, based on Josquin's teachings. He referred to Josquin as "princeps musicorum" which means "main writer of music." Another person which Josquin influenced was the German reformer Martin Luther. Mr. Luther had his own views on music and how it relates to education. He believed that music could influence behavior. He also believed that there is a balance between freedom and discipline. Music should possess the freedom of a 'gift of God' and the discipline of human musical craftsmanship. He saw this balance in Josquin Desprez's music. His belief that the right music produced a more reasonable man corresponded with his belief that general education produced a more orderly society (Tarry). Music has influenced many people in many different ways whether it be philosophically, emotionally, or physically. Martin Luther expressed great admiration for Josquin's music, calling him "master of the notes, must do as he wishes; other composers must do as the notes wish."
Josquin Desprez was the greatest composer of the Renaissance period. His musical style was the product of two cultures: the north, where he was born and educated and to which he later returned and the south, where he reached artistic maturity and spent many of the most productive years of his life. In his musical techniques he stands at the summit of the Renaissance, blending traditional forms with innovations that later became standard practice. Josquin was a highly acclaimed individual during his time and since then his music has helped pave the way for music as it is known today.
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