Clement Janequin

Clement Janequin was famous as a composer of chansons in the early sixteenth century. In order to discover him better, questions need to be asked. Questions like "what was his life like", and "why his music was special and what influenced his musical life", and "what made him famous", and "what is his background in music and what were the music like back then". These are some basic questions that need to be asked before write about his music. As the journals above shows, there are some interesting facts about Clement Janequin. He was an ordained priest. He published 2 masses and psalm settings but he was well known for composing chansons. He approximately composed 286 chansons.

Damrosch, Frank. Chanson : after Expert: Ren. franç. vol. V (atteignant, 1639) : for four-part chorus of mixed voices. New York: Schirmer, G., 1925

Rothstein, Marian. Charting change in France around 1540. Selinsgrove: Susquehanna University Press, 2006

Clement Janequin is well known for French chanson composer. As the books above refer, he is one of the composers who helped developing the new style of chansons that arose in the sixteenth century. At this point, a question "how he helped developing the chansons" arouses. His works of many polyphonic chansons establish a basis of French art of music. His works is also important for modern style of chansons.

Janequin, Clement. La Guerre, College of New Jersey Chorale, condutor; Mendoza, Michael. 2007. Pacific Northwest Canadian Tour 7629-MCD. Compact disc.

Janequin, Clement. Au Verd biys je m'en iray, Vancouver Chamber Choir, conductor; Washburn, Jon. Music to Hear MVCD 1076. Compact disc.

Clement Janequin's career was unusual for his time, in that he never had a firm position with cathedral but instead he held a several minor positions. He could have hold in a higher position but he decided not to. Instead, he focused on mostly music so that he could contribute the development of music. Even he could have better standard of living, since he choose to live as an artist, he suffered from poverty and died. Another interesting fact about him is that in those days, Paris was the capital place for all kinds of arts. Although he went to Paris to study things that he did not get a chance to learn when he was young, he did not work in Paris and still got famous. Many of other famous artists worked in Paris because it was the capital of the arts. There are some information about him and his music but there are not many information about his childhood.

Here of Sunday Morning. "The French chanson " (by Whent Chris). http://www.hoasm.org

Grove Music Online ed. L.