Josquin des Prez

Josquin des Prez was born circa 1450 in the County of Hainaut. Serving in royal and papal chapels across Milan, Rome, Ferrara, and France, Josquin was widely recognized during his lifetime as the greatest musical mind of his age.

Martin Luther famously remarked of him: 'Josquin is the master of the notes; they must do as he wills, whereas other composers must do as the notes will.' His mastery of imitative counterpoint, expressive word-painting, and sublime motets (such as Ave Maria... Virgo serena and Miserere mei, Deus) established the classical polyphonic ideal of the High Renaissance. He spent his final years as provost of the collegiate church of Notre-Dame in Condé.