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"There are two means of refuge from the misery of life — music and cats." - Albert Schweitzer

Josquin Desprez

The fact that Josquin Desprez would turn out to be one of the most influential composers of the Renaissance, is partly due to the many praises by Martin Luther. Luther saw Josquin's music as the perfect example of how to express text musically while maintaining the intended meaning. If you listen to Josquin's music, you will know what Luther meant. His motets are particularly appealing and engaging. 

His popularity led a large number of publishers to publish music with Josquin's name on it, even though it wasn't composed by him at all, as this would undoubtedly generate better sales. Unfortunately, this meant that nowadays it is not always clear which works are written by him, and which are not...  His authentic works, however, can be distinguished by their remarkable clarity, ingenuity and depth. Some highlights are his motets Miserere mei, Stabat Mater, his famous Ave Maria, Ut Phoebi Radiis, and his lamentation after the death of Johannes Ockeghem (La Déploration). 

Featured on

Various composers
Passeggiata Musicale. Leonardo Da Vinci
ALTA Early Music Ensemble
Josquin Desprez
Missa Ave maris stella
Cappella Pratensis / Stratton Bull
Various composers
Luther's wedding day
Capella de la Torre
Various composers
Vinum et Musica - Songs & dances from Nuremberg sources (15th & 16th century)
Capella de la Torre / Dominique Visse
Various composers
Dutch Diversity
Brisk Recorder Quartet Amsterdam, Marcel Beekman
Various composers
Vivat Leo! Music for a Medici Pope
Cappella Pratensis & Joshua Rifkin
Pieces de Violes IIIe Livre
Dornenburg/proud/tetenbaum
Various composers
Italian Music for Virtuosi
La Dada Amsterdam