- Jacquet of Mantua
Jacquet of Mantua (Jacques Colebault, dit Jachet de Mantoue) (1483–
October 2 ,1559 ) was a French composer of the Renaissance, who spent almost his entire life inItaly . He was an extremely influential member of the generation between Josquin and Palestrina, and well represents the transitionalpolyphonic style between those two composers.Life
Jacquet was born in Vitré (
Ille-et-Vilaine ) and probably went to Italy at an early age. He was inModena in 1519, working for the Rangoni family, and in 1525 was inFerrara at theEste court, where he formed a close friendship withAdrian Willaert , the founder of theVenetian School . The next year he moved toMantua , where he spent the rest of his life. He became "maestro di cappella" at the cathedral of SS Peter and Paul, where his employer wasCardinal Ercole Gonzaga , theBishop of Mantua . Cardinal Ercole was fond of Jacquet, and the relationship was mutually beneficial; when Gonzaga became the president of theCouncil of Trent , and the most enthusiastic supporter of theCounter-Reformation , he was a forceful advocate for the music of his favorite composer.In addition to being recognized by his employer, the
Medici popes Leo X and Clement VII also praised his music. Much of Jacquet's music circulated widely, especially his motet "Aspice Domine" which appeared in over 30 contemporary sources.Jacquet seems to have died in debt, a strange occurrence for one so well-connected and esteemed, especially by the Medici; however his family received a pension from Cardinal Ercole.
Music
Jacquet wrote almost exclusively sacred vocal music. He was attentive to the trends of the time, and his music shows a clear stylistic progression from an early reliance on late 15th century practices to a later grasp of the pervasive imitation used by the generation of composers after Josquin. His craftsmanship is careful, and his
counterpoint is fluid and graceful; parts are well-balanced, and occasionalhomophonic sections break the prevailing polyphonic texture. Most of his music is full-textured, with all voices singing.He wrote 23 masses which have survived, and well over 100
motet s. Many of the motets are for state occasions: arrivals of dignitaries, marriages, tributes, laments and so forth. Only three secular works have survived, and those are most likely early compositions; the more zealous leaders of the Counter-Reformation had a low opinion of secular music, and Jacquet seems to have obliged them.In his later years, his music was simpler, and he wrote many
hymn s. The tendency of the Council of Trent at this time was encourage relatively simple music in which the words could be clearly understood; Jacquet was both following this trend, and showing the natural development of a style which had embraced complexpolyphony early, and which later sought simplicity and clarity.Media
Recording
*2003 - "Canticum Canticorum. In Praise of Love: The
Song of Songs in the Renaissance."Capilla Flamenca . Eufoda 1359. Contains a recording of O gloriosa domina by Luis de NarvaezReferences and further reading
* Article "Jacquet of Mantua", in "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 0-393-09530-4External links
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.