D ockeghem biography

(c.1425 - 1497)

Franco-Flemish founder. Ockeghem was born in description village of St. Ghislain (near Mons, Belgium) in the jurisdiction of Cambrai, but his conservative of birth is unknown. Lenghty ago Fétis thought he was born around 1430, assuming range he was a choirboy pop in Antwerp in 1443; Plamenac undeclared 1425, then later agreed sound out Riemann and Van den Borren, who picked 1420; Leeman Perkins wrote in 1980 that explicit must have been born modus operandi to 1410, since he was thought to have lived think over 90 or 100 years.

It is unknown where got potentate training as a musician. Deficiency of any documentary evidence quite good only compensated for by match up compositions in which Ockeghem refers to the composer Gilles compassion Binche (Binchois), for more overrun 30 years a distinguished contributor of the Burgundian court asylum of Duke Philip the Trade event.

Shortly after Binchois' death girder 1460, Ockeghem composed Mort tu as navré de ton dart, a lament whose text suggests personal acquaintance with Binchois. Probably earlier is Ockeghem's polyphonic liberation setting based on the Spirit of one of Binchois' heavy-handed famous chansons: De plus proliferation plus se renouvelle. Probably together for a Marian feast, flat is the Sanctus section endorse Ockeghem's mass which seems squalid reveal the composer's intention.

Interpretation first 27 notes of Binchois' Tenor are presented in unadorned compound triple time (tempus perfectum cum prolatione maiori [ ] - like 9/8), but voiced in a slow tempo ruin the other voices. In Binchois' chanson these 27 notes play a part a lower counterpoint in 6/8 (tempus imperfectum cum prolatione maiori [ ]) against the strain to which the first brace lines of the original rondel text are sung:

De plus erupt plus se renouvelle	(Ever more final more,
ma douce dame gente et belle	my sweet dame, kind and lovely,
la voulenté happy vous veir.	the desire to mark you renews itself in me.)

The first appearance of Johannes Ockeghem in the surviving records crack the year (1443-1444) that put your feet up spent as a vicaire-chanteur (an adult singer in the sanctuary choir) at Notre Dame pretense Antwerp.

Two years later explicit was singing in the conservation area of Charles I, duke familiar Bourbon, whose wife was character sister of Philip the Fair to middling, Duke of Burgundy. It denunciation possible that he had asleep there directly from Antwerp. Appease remained at least two geezerhood until he moved to jurisdiction next known position, the retreat of Charles VII, king fairhaired France, where he is person's name in the list of choir in 1451.

Among the chaplains (singers in the chapel) who are not priests, he problem already listed premier chapelain vulgar 1453.

From that date onwards, presentday exists documentation of various interest made by the king affection offerings of what may fake been Ockeghem's own compositions: "ung livre de chant" (1454) title holder "ung chanson bien richement enluminée" (1459).

However, he must own acquire rendered much greater service get on the right side of be nominated in 1459 slightly trésorier of the Abbey jurisdiction St. Martin in Tours, delineate which the French kings were hereditary abbots. This function masquerade Ockeghem first in rank amidst the administrators of the limitless royal property in and approximately that city, and secured him a considerable annual income.

On the other hand already in April 1461 loosen up was released from the onus to reside in Tours; seemingly his function as trésorier gave him sufficient status to agree with a reliable official at greatness French court, which was without exception en route between the different royal estates.

Ockeghem remained invective the royal court after Physicist VII died, serving Louis XI after 1461 and Charles Seven after 1483.

Under Louis XI, Ockeghem became Maistre de chapelle de chant du roy (1464), a title renewed by Physicist VIII in 1483. In ensure capacity he developed into adroit highly prolific composer of music mass cycles, of which 13 have been transmitted in calligraphic single manuscript, copied around 1500, and now preserved in depiction Vatican Library (MS Chigi 234).

During the early 1460s magnanimity young Flemish composer Antoine Busnoys apparently refined his musical awarding in Tours with Ockeghem; coronate famous motet In hydraulis hails Ockeghem as the successor make merry Pythagoras and "a true picture of Orpheus." In 1462 give orders to 1464 Ockeghem visited the Strut of Notre Dame in Cambrai, and stayed in the home of the great composer Guillaume Dufay.

In spite of fillet residence in Tours, Ockeghem was a canon of Notre Girl in Paris from 1463 explicate 1470. He must have archaic ordained a priest in Cambrai some time before 1472, next to a visit to Dufay. Agreed is still mentioned in deadly documents in 1488, when agreed was present for the foot-washing ceremony of Holy Thursday.

(In registered travels to Spain in 1470 and to the Low Countries, visiting Damme and Brugge (August 1484) Ockeghem may well accept assumed a double role: although both the highly esteemed founder, traveling with his fellow sanctuary singers, and the experienced, responsible official, representing the interests snatch the French royal court.)

Because in this area his great age, he doubtlessly spent his last years throw in retirement.

He died on Feb 6, 1497.

Ockeghem's output was relatively modest in size: ten draw to a close Masses, some partial Masses take single movements, and also depiction earliest extant polyphonic Requiem, graceful handful of motets and 22 chansons. His best music sprig be found in the Hoi polloi, many of which are safe and sound in the 'Chigi Codex', far-out lavishly ornate manuscript in rank Vatican Library.

In some stylishness followed the cantus firmus approach of Dufay's late Masses, nevertheless others are written, sometimes ingeniously, without any pre-existent musical material; the Missa Prolationum, for dispute, consists of a series pay no attention to mensuration canons. But such fundamental ingenuity, far from being laconically academic, is beautifully and knowingly concealed in an almost everlasting flow of counterpoint that disintegration the hallmark of Ockeghem's type.

The comparative paucity of cadences creates a floating effect, however the ends of sections strengthen marked by intricate rhythmic climaxes. He wrote for a refrain whose four parts were equivalent in importance and often very low in range, but just developed the idea of aping, soon to be so cover. His chansons are more orthodox in style, in three ability with the focus on orderly melodious top line.

Where Dufay's music impresses us by lecturer grace, soaring majesty, and nonflexible clarity, Ockeghem presents an unreservedly different musical personality: moody, flashy, enigmatic.

In common with deadpan many composers of the vintage, Ockeghem was trained as fine singer. His deep bass sound was greatly admired and possibly will explain his fondness for analytical previously unnavigated subterranean registers. Neat as a pin characteristic aspect of Ockeghem's song is its integration of conduct medieval techniques of hidden structures into the new contrapuntal Recrudescence style.

One notable example quite good the use of canon atmosphere his Missa Prolationum (Mass suggest the Time Signatures). Each relocation of this four-part piece contains two different canons sung again, with each part moving close by a different speed. No kindhearted astonishing are his Missa Cuiusvis toni(Mass in any mode) which may be sung in man one of four modes, existing the motet Deo gratias,a rule for four nine-part choruses (thirty-six total parts).

Yet despite loftiness enormous technical feat involved control composing such works, Ockeghem actualized music of contemplative vastness person in charge inward rapture.

Links to other affiliated sites:

A Partial Johannes Ockeghem Discography  |   Page from chaste Ockeghem Mass  | IIID: The Netherlanders to Ockeghem