Desprez, Josquin, << duh PRAY or day PRAY, ZHUHS kan or zhaws KAN >> (1440?-1521), was one of the greatest composers of the Renaissance period. He has been highly praised for his ability to express words through music. He was also known for his command of musical techniques, especially his skillful use of the canon, a musical device in which the melody is repeated in one or more other parts. Josquin usually wrote music for four voices. Many of his pieces are love songs. For the church he wrote about 100 unaccompanied choral works known as motets and 18 Masses. Beginning in 1502, several of the earliest books of printed music were devoted to his works. Many pieces by lesser composers were attributed to him.
Josquin was born in northern France but lived in Italy for many years. He was a singer at Milan Cathedral and at the Papal Chapel in Rome. He also served the dukes of Milan and Ferrara. After his death on Aug. 27, 1521, Josquin’s music was long neglected, but it is widely admired today. Other spellings of his name include Depres and Des Pres.
