Josquin Des Prez Known: Most Significant Composer Of The Mid-Renaissance Period

Josquin des Prez Known simply as Josquin, was one of the most significant composers of the mid-Renaissance period, around 1500. He was of Flemish descent, which is in the area now known as the Netherlands. This is where Dufay traveled and composed, and his impact on Josquin is apparent. The resemblances are remarkable; like Dufay, Josquin went to Italy and composed sacred masses and motets, and composed secular works in French and Italian. Additionally, like Dufay, Josquin composed for four voices. On the other hand, Josquin took a unique approach. Josquin’s novelties involved making the music effectually convey the text by accentuating the correct emphasis of words. This permitted the music to enrich the text, rather than just make it
sound lovelier. Josquin also altered textures within a song: not all the singers sang at the same time all the time. Instead, there would be sometimes when there were two singers, while other times, three or even four singers would be singing. Specifically, he modernized the motet with a similar method called imitative polyphony, where the text is reverberated between high-pitched and low-pitched voices. Josquin was considered an expert of church music by many, including Martin Luther, who stated him as 'the master of notes.' Josquin was known for his dazzling use of imitative counterpoint and passionate sacred choral music.