Johannes Ockeghem - Biography
Johannes Ockeghem the great Flemish composer of the early Renaissance was born circa 1410 in Saint- Gislain Belgium and died on February 6th 1497 in Tours France. Almost nothing is known of his early life. He may have been a student of the celebrated composer Binchois. He trained as a chorister and solo singer. He first emerges as a historical figure when he enters the service Charles the First, Duke of Bourbon in Moulins France in 1447 as a chorister and director. In 1452 he moved to Paris where he became head of the Royal courts chapel choir. He serves both Charles the Seventh and Louis the Eleventh. Ockeghem also had a prominent position at Notre Dame Cathedral. He must have been well thought of by King Louis as he was sent as part of a Royal mission to Spain to arrange the marriage between his brother and a Spanish Princess. Louis died in 1483 and not much is known about Ockeghem’s work our service from this period to his death in Tours in 1497. That he was a well known and respected composer is attested to by the many laments that were written after his death including a well known Motet by the great composer Joaquin De Pres, La Deporation la mort de Johannes Ockeghem. There are fourteen Masses attributed to him including a Requiem. Amongst his best known works id the Missa pro Defunctus, Missa Fouors Seulement, Missa Caput and the Missa Prolationum. These works are among the first demonstration of contrapuntal style. Ockeghem also wrote religious Motets and secular Chansons (Songs).
Ockeghem is one of the many composers who have benefited from the early music revival that started in the 1970’s.There are excellent recordings from the Tallis Scholars on the Gimell label and from the Clerks Group on the Hyperion label. Listening to Ockeghem with his weaving contrapuntal lines can be a mesmeric experience.