Guillaume Bouzignac

Guillaume Bouzignac (c. 1587; † after 1643) was a French priest, choir conductor and composer.

Life and work

Guillaume Bouzignac was probably born about 1587 in Saint- Nazaire d'Aude in southern France. He received his education at the Cathedral Saint -Just of Narbonne. His career is typical of travel Kapellmeister of his time, who were often only a few years working in one place. Bouzignac was employed for about a year as a singer and sous- maître de musique in 1607 at the Cathedral of Angoulême. In the meantime, he was again active in Narbonne. From November 1624 he was appointed maître de musique is documented for at the Cathedral of Bourges. After a short stay in Paris, he took over in 1629 the management of the Maîtrise at the Notre Dame Cathedral of Rodez, where he worked until 1632. From 1643 his name appears as head of the Maîtrise Notre -Dame- du- Port de Clermont- Ferrand Cathedral. Some evidence suggests that he 1642 the basilica of Saint- Martin de Tours or the neighboring abbey Marmoutier visited.

1632 wrote the royal juge - Prévot from Angouleme to his friend Marin Mersenne that by about 1606 or 1607 Bouzignac was his servant, and he referred to this at this time as réputé pour estre un bon Maistre, a praise which Mersenne in 1637 in his treatise harmony Universal confirmed.

Only at the beginning of the 20th century Bouzignacs were rediscovered only in manuscript traditional works. It is not certain, but it is believed that Bouzignac has stayed after 1608 some years in Italy and / or Spain. This would also explain the special nature of its music. A striking feature of Bouzignacs way of composing is the special drama, which he achieved in that the choir is divided into groups that are in dialogue with each other.