Johannes Ockeghem
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Ockeghem (with glasses) and his singers |
Johannes Ockeghem (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.
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: even his birth date is unknown, and is usually inferred from a comment by the poet Crétin, at the time of his death, that "it was a great shame that a composer of his talents should die before 100 years old". 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 becoming treasurer of 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 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.
Very few of his works have survived: some 14
masses and a
Requiem mass, 9
motets and a song motet (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. 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 are anonymous in the sources, but 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, certainly his use of complex bass lines sets him apart from 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
Nimphes des bois by
Jean Molinet.
*
Gustave Reese,
Music in the Renaissance. New York, W.W. Norton & Co., 1954. (ISBN 0393095304)
* Article "Johannes Ockeghem."
The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, ed. Stanley Sadie. 20 vol. London, Macmillan Publishers Ltd., 1980. (ISBN 1561591742)
*
Ockeghem biography and discography
