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Johannes Ockeghem

  • Born 1410 in St.-Ghislain, province of Hainaut
  • Died February 06, 1497 in Tours, France [?]
  • Period: Renaissance (1450-1599)
  • Country: Flanders (Belgium)
  • Genres: Choral, Vocal

Biography

The birth of one of the most renowned singers and composers of the entire fifteenth century remains unfortunately shrouded in mystery. Though later poetic and archival sources confirm Johannes Ockeghem's birthplace, in the French-speaking province of Hainaut (modern-day Belgium, but at that time a part of the Duchy of Burgundy), only broad guesses may be advanced for his birthdate. A well-known poem laments his death "before reaching one hundred years," and a manuscript illustration of the French Royal chapel pictures one prominent aged figure with wrinkled skin and thick glasses. However, a visiting Italian as late as 1477 described Ockeghem as yet beautiful and utterly dignified in manner. Whatever his age, by the 1440s and 1450s, Jean de Okeghem (as many contemporary French documents call him) was well on the way to a musical career of international renown. He can reliably be documented in service as a singer at the Church of Our Lady in Antwerp at least from June 1443 till June 1444 and in the private chapel of the French Duke of Bourbon at Moulins from 1446 to 1448. In 1450, he began serving the Kings of France directly, and would remain to his death the jewel in the crown of the French Royal Chapel.

Ockeghem served three successive Kings over nearly 50 years: Charles VII (until the monarch's death in 1461, for which the Requiem may have been composed), Louis XI (1461-1483), and Charles VIII. As early as 1454, court registers record Ockeghem giving a songbook to the King personally; these refer to him as premier chapellain. Along with this prestigious title, Charles VII named Ockeghem to the powerful and lucrative post of Treasurer of the Abbey of St. Martin in Tours, the wealthy monastery of which the King was himself titular Abbot. Then, in 1464, Louis XI elevated him to be called Maistre de la chapelle de chant du roy; the distinguished singer and composer would hold all three titles until his death. In addition, he held benefice incomes such as a canonicate at Notre Dame in Paris (later exchanged for one at St. Benoit, Paris). He appears not to have traveled much, though in 1464 he visited Guillaume Dufay in Cambrai, and in 1470 journeyed to Spain. His will in 1484 endowed the chapter of St. Martin with his goods and income; this may have been in response to an illness. His death, however, (apparently in retirement) did not occur until 1497.

Ockeghem enjoyed a stellar reputation among contemporary musicians as well as his employers. He apparently knew Gilles Binchois, composer to the Burgundian Court, for whom he composed the lament Mort, tu as navré in 1460. In turn, Antoine Busnois, singer of the count of Charolais (soon to be Duke of Burgundy) honored Ockeghem with the motet In hydraulis in 1465-1467. Johannes Tinctoris, theorist and composer, called Ockeghem the first among all the most excellent composers of his time, and even Duke Galeazzo Maria Sforza of far-off Milan sought his assistance in the recruitment of singers. Upon Ockeghem's death, laments were composed by some of the greatest figures of his age, including poets (Guillaume Crétin and Jean Molinet), composer (Josquin Desprez), and thinker (Erasmus of Rotterdam). ~ Timothy Dickey, All Music Guide

 
 
Music Encyclopedia: Johannes Ockeghem

(b c1410; d ?Tours, 6 Feb 1497). Franco-Flemish composer. The earliest reference to him as a singer shows that he was a vicaire-chanteur at Notre Dame, Antwerp, for a year from 24 June 1443. His déploration on Binchois' death (1460) suggests a connection with the Burgundian ducal chapel where Busnois and Dufay worked. He entered the service of Charles I, Duke of Bourbon, in Moulins in the mid-1440s and was a member of the chapel in 1446-8. In the year ending 30 September 1453 he is cited in the French court archives ‘nouveau en 1451’. This service continued during Louis XI's reign, though he held other offices, including a canonry at Notre Dame, Paris (1463-70). In 1470 he visited Spain, in 1484 Bruges and Dammes. After Louis death he remained premier chapelain and was still on the payroll in 1488. He enjoyed an enviable personal and professional reputation.

His most imposing works are his mass settings. Several are based on pre-existing material, sacred or secular. One of the earliest is probably the Missa ‘Caput’ which states the cantus firmus in the lowest voice, but in other (probably later) works, such as the Missa ‘De plus en plus’, he varied the treatment of the cantus firmus, assimilating it increasingly to the rhythmic and melodic character of the other voices; his two incomplete mass cycles are based on late chansons of his own, and his polyphonic Requiem is the earliest known setting. Others of his masses, including the Missa prolationum and the Missa ‘Mi-mi’, are freely composed. The former is perhaps the most extraordinary contrapuntal achievement of the 15th century, with its simultaneous use of all four prolations in complex canonic combinations, while the other clearly shows his own characteristic style, with its variations in mensuration, texture and sonority. His motets display even greater inventiveness, combining homophonic textures, skilful cantus firmus treatments, sweeping melodic lines, energetic rhythmic figures and frequent imitation. Most of his chansons use traditional formes fixes and feature trebledominated textures, though some are canonic and occasionally anticipate early 16th-century chanson style. The level of contrapuntal skill and artistic excellence of his music laid a foundation for the achievements of Josquin's generation.

works:
Sacred vocal music
  • c 14 masses
  • Requiem
  • c 9 motets
Secular vocal music
  • c 20 chansons
  • many doubtful works

 
Biography: Johannes Ockeghem

Johannes Ockeghem (ca. 1425-1495) was a Netherlandish composer who spent most of his creative life at the French court.

Johannes Ockeghem was born in the Netherlands, possibly in Hainaut. Nothing is known about his early years, although he undoubtedly studied music in one of the cathedral schools for which his homeland was justly famous. The earliest document concerning his activity places him among the more than 50 singers in the choir of the Church of Our Lady in Antwerp in 1443/1444. This is also the only reference to his activity in the Netherlands.

In 1448 Ockeghem appeared on the list of 13 singers employed by Charles, Duke of Bourbon, then residing in Moulin. By 1452 Ockeghem's name was first in the list of singers in the chapel of Charles VII of France. He was to serve the French kings for more than 40 years. By 1454 he was premier chappelain and dedicated a book of music, presumably his own, to the king. Records of gifts from the king for this collection and for a single chanson are preserved. References to his activity at court are preserved, unfortunately with little or no mention of particular compositions. Thus, the chronology of his output remains a problem.

The high esteem in which the kings of France held Ockeghem is demonstrated by the positions they secured for him. He became treasurer of the Abbey of St. Martin of Tours, one of the richest abbeys of the time, whose abbots had historically been the kings of France. He was not required to reside there, possibly because of the desire for his musical services at court. In 1465 he also received the title maistre de la chappelle de chant du roy. During the remainder of his life he left France only for a short journey to Spain in 1470 and Flanders in 1484.

Ockeghem's fame was not limited to the country of his patrons. Sometime before 1467 his contemporary Antoine Busnois composed the motet In hydraulis, which praises Ockeghem. Johannes Tinctoris, leading theorist of the time and active in Naples, dedicated his Liber de natura et proprietate tonorum (1476) to Ockeghem and Busnois and named Ockeghem as the most famous musician of his time in the prologue to his Liber de arte contrapuncti (1477). Erasmus of Rotterdam wrote a lament on Ockeghem's death.

For a composer of this renown, a surprisingly small number of works have been preserved. These include 20 chansons, 10 complete Mass Ordinaries, 3 incomplete Mass Ordinaries, a Requiem Mass, and no more than 10 motets. Although his works are now seen in a more accurate light, Ockeghem's reputation was formerly based on the knowledge of only a few, atypical works which emphasized complex compositional procedures. The Missa prolationem, a series of mensuration canons, and a 36-voice canonic motet were among the first works to come to the attention of scholars. Although each is a tour de force in contrapuntal artifice, they are not typical of his general style.

Ockeghem's output is better characterized by other works, which demonstrate his rhapsodical, asymmetrical melodic style and a general avoidance of pervading imitation. All voices are of equal importance and of similar and eminently vocal character. In contrast to his contemporary Jacob Obrecht, with whom his name is often linked, Ockeghem seemed to consciously avoid clear cadences and their articulating effect. This avoidance of clear phrases and an asymmetrical melodic line have been compared to the mysticism of certain religious movements of the period. Ockeghem also frequently used the lowest part of the vocal range, which resulted in a very dark sound. These are the features that best characterize his work, not the contrapuntal complexity of a few exceptional compositions.

Further Reading

Ernst Krenek, Johannes Ockeghem (1953), is a succint biographical and critical study. A thorough discussion of Ockeghem's life, works, and times is found in Gustave Reese, Music in the Renaissance (1954; rev. ed. 1959). Manfred F. Bukofzer, Studies in Medieval and Renaissance Music (1950), and Donald Jay Grout, A History of Western Music (1960), have good discussions of Ockeghem and are recommended for general background.

 
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: Johannes Ockeghem

(born c. 1410 — died Feb. 6, 1497, Tours, France?) Flemish composer and singer. He is first mentioned as a member of an Antwerp choir in 1443. He held a series of posts in the Low Countries and France; he may have been associated with Gilles Binchois (c. 1400 – 60) and Guillaume Dufay, and Antoine Busnois (c. 1430 – 92) may have been his student. Though universally admired, his output over a career of more than 50 years was small, comprising 14 mass cycles, about 10 motets, and about 20 chansons. His richly sonorous works often reflect intricate structural principles.

For more information on Johannes Ockeghem, visit Britannica.com.

 
Columbia Encyclopedia: Ockeghem, Johannes
(yōhän'əs ŏk'əgĕm) , c.1410–1497, Flemish composer. Ockeghem is thought to have been a pupil of Gilles Binchois and was definitely taught by Guillaume Dufay. He himself taught Josquin Desprez. He served three kings of France—Charles VII, Louis XI, and Charles VIII—and died at Tours. Considered the leader of the second generation of Flemish composers, he made highly influential contributions to imitative counterpoint in sacred music.
 
Wikipedia: Johannes Ockeghem
Ockeghem (with glasses) and his singers
Ockeghem (with glasses) and his singers

Johannes Ockeghem (also Jean de; surname Okeghem, Ogkegum, Okchem, Hocquegam, Ockegham; other variant spellings are also encountered) (c. 1410, Saint-Ghislain, Belgium – February 6, 1497, Tours, France) was the leading composer of the second generation of the Franco-Flemish School. Ockeghem is often considered the most important composer between Dufay and Josquin des Prez, and was one of the most famous composers in Europe in the latter half of the 15th century.

Life

The spelling of Ockeghem's name comes from a supposed autograph of his which survived as late as 1885, and as reported by E. Giraudet, a historian in Tours; the document has since been lost. In 15th century sources, the spelling "Okeghem" predominates.

The birthdate of Ockeghem is controversial, and dates as early as 1410, and as late as 1430 have been proposed.[1] The earlier date is based on the possibility that he knew Binchois in Hainaut before the older composer moved from Mons to Lille in 1423, and when Ockeghem was still a choirboy: Ockeghem would have to have been younger than 15 at the time. This particular speculation derives from Ockeghem's reference, in the lament he wrote on the death of Binchois in 1460, to a Binchois chanson dated to that time.[2] The comment by the poet Guillaume Crétin, in the lament he wrote on Ockeghem's death in 1497, "it was a great shame that a composer of his talents should die before 100 years old", is also often taken as evidence for the earlier date.

Recent research has shown that Ockeghem was born in the town of Saint-Ghislain; many older biographies state that he was either born in the town of his name or in the neighboring town of Dendermonde in East Flanders (now part of modern Belgium), part of the Duchy of Burgundy. Details of his early life are lacking. Like many composers in this period, he started his musical career as chorister, and the first record of his musical activity comes from the cathedral of Notre Dame in Antwerp, where he was employed in 1443 and 1444. Between 1446 and 1448 he served Charles, Duke of Bourbon, in Moulins (France). Around 1452 he moved to Paris where he served as maestro di cappella to the French court, as well as treasurer to the St. Martin cathedral in Tours. In addition to serving at the French court – both for Charles VII and Louis XI – he held posts at Notre Dame Cathedral and St. Benoît. He is known to have traveled to Spain in 1470, as part of a diplomatic mission, which was an attempt to arrange a marriage between Isabella of Castile and Charles, Duke of Guyenne (the brother of king Louis XI). After the death of Louis XI (1483), not much is known for certain about Ockeghem's whereabouts, though it is known that he went to Bruges and Tours, and he probably died in the latter town since he left a will there.

Ockeghem probably studied with Gilles Binchois, and at the very least was closely associated with him at the Burgundian court. Since Antoine Busnois wrote a motet in honor of Ockeghem sometime before 1467, it is probable that those two were acquainted as well; and writers of the time often link Dufay, Busnois and Ockeghem. Although Ockeghem's musical style differs considerably from that of the older generation, it is probable that he acquired his basic technique from them, and as such can be seen as a direct link from the Burgundian style to the next generation of Netherlanders, such as Obrecht and Josquin.

Music and influence

Very few of his works have survived: some 14 masses (including a Requiem mass), an isolated Credo (Credo sine nomine), 5 motets, a motet-chanson (a deploration on the death of Binchois), and 21 chansons. Thirteen of Ockeghem's masses are preserved in a late Fifteenth century Flemish manuscript known as the Chigi codex. His Missa pro Defunctis is the earliest surviving example of a polyphonic Requiem mass (a setting by Dufay, possibly earlier, has been lost). In addition to his small surviving output, some of the works attributed to him have been questioned: for example the amazing technical tour-de-force for 36 voices, Deo gratias is very likely by someone else, but this remains in dispute; and several of his chansons and motets, while anonymous in the sources, are attributed to him on stylistic grounds.

A strong influence on Josquin Des Prez, Ockeghem was famous throughout Europe for his expressive music and his technical mastery. His technical prowess is demonstrated most clearly in the astonishing Missa prolationum, which consists entirely of mensuration canons, and the 'Missa cuiusvis', to be performed in different modes, but even these technique-oriented masterpieces demonstrate his insightful use of vocal ranges and uniquely expressive tonal language. Being a renowned bass singer himself, his use of wide-ranging and rhythmically active bass lines sets him apart from many of the other composers in the Netherlandish Schools.

To commemorate his death, Josquin Des Prez composed the motet La déploration de la mort de Johannes Ockeghem, a setting of the poem Nymphes des bois by Jean Molinet.

Works

Masses

  1. Missa sine nomine
  2. Missa sine nomine (incomplete: only Kyrie, Gloria and Credo exist)
  3. Missa Au travail suis
  4. Missa Caput
  5. Missa cuiusvis toni
  6. Missa De plus en plus
  7. Missa Ecce ancilla Domini
  8. Missa Fors seulement (has not survived complete: only Kyrie, Gloria and Credo remain)
  9. Missa L'homme armé
  10. Missa Ma maistresse (only Kyrie and Gloria extant)
  11. Missa Mi-mi (also known as the Missa quarti toni)
  12. Missa prolationum
  13. Missa quinti toni
  14. Missa pro defunctis (Requiem)
  15. Credo sine nomine (Mass section)

Motets

Marian antiphons

  1. Alma Redemptoris mater
  2. Ave Maria
  3. Salve regina

Others

  1. Intemerata Dei mater (possibly written 1487)[3]
  2. Ut heremita solus

Motet-chanson

  1. Mort tu as navré/Miserere (lamentation on the death of Gilles Binchois, probably written in 1460)

Chansons

Two voices

  1. O rosa bella (ballata) (Ai lasso mi - Bedyngham/Dunstable?)

Three voices

  1. Aultre Venus estes
  2. Au travail suis (attrib: possibly by Barbingant)
  3. Baisiés moy dont fort
  4. D'un autre amer
  5. Fors seulement contre
  6. Fors seulement l'attente
  7. Il ne m'en chault plus
  8. La despourveue et la bannie
  9. L'autre d'antan
  10. Les desléaux ont la saison
  11. Ma bouche rit
  12. Ma maistresse
  13. Prenez sur moi
  14. Presque transi
  15. Quant de vous seul
  16. Qu'es mi vida preguntays
  17. Se vostre cuer eslongne
  18. Tant fuz gentement resjouy
  19. Ung aultre l'a

Three or four voices

  1. J'en ay dueil

Four voices

  1. S'elle m'amera/Petite camusette

References

  • Leeman Perkins: "Johannes Ockeghem", Grove Music Online, ed. L. Macy (Accessed January 16, 2007), (subscription access)
  • Article "Johannes Ockeghem." The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, ed. Stanley Sadie. 20 vol. London, Macmillan Publishers Ltd., 1980. (ISBN 1-56159-174-2)
  • Gustave Reese, Music in the Renaissance. New York, W.W. Norton & Co., 1954. (ISBN 0-393-09530-4)
  • Fabrice Fitch, Johannes Ockeghem: Masses and Models. Paris, Honoré Champion Éditeur, 1997. ISBN 0-2-85203-735-1
  • Jeffrey Dean: "Okeghem's valediction? the meaning of 'Intemerata Dei mater'", in Johannes Ockeghem: Actes du XLe Colloque international d'études humanistes. Éditions Klincksieck, 1998. ISBN 2-252-03214-6
  • Martin Picker, Johannes Ockeghem and Jacob Obrecht: A Guide to Research. (Garland Composer Resource Manuals, 13). New York: Garland Publishing Co., 1988. ISBN: 0824083814.

Notes

  1. ^ Fitch, p. 57.
  2. ^ Perkins, Grove online
  3. ^ Dean, p. 555.

Recordings

  • Flemish Masters, Virginia Arts Recordings, VA-04413, performed by Zephyrus. Includes the Ockeghem Alma Redemptoris mater, the Obrecht Missa Sub tuum presidium, as well as motets by Willaert, Clemens non Papa, Josquin, Mouton, and Gombert.
  • Angelus, Virginia Arts Recordings, VA-00338, performed by Zephyrus. Includes the Ockeghem Ave Maria ... benedicta tu, as well as motets by Palestrina, Josquin, Victoria, Rore, Morales, Clemens non Papa, Lassus, de Wert, and Andrea Gabrieli.

External links


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Copyrights:

Artist. Copyright © 2008 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ® , a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Music Encyclopedia. The Concise Grove Dictionary of Music. Copyright © 1994 by Oxford University Press, Inc.. All rights reserved.  Read more
Biography. © 2006 through a partnership of Answers Corporation. All rights reserved.  Read more
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Johannes Ockeghem".  Read more

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