Johannes Prioris
John Prioris; Franco- Flemish composer and singer (* around 1460 perhaps in Brabant? † around 1514 ( ) in France ) (?).
Life and origin
On the Flemish name Prioris " De Veurste " or does " De Vorste ". It has therefore been suggested that Prioris comes from the Brussels city located in Forest / Vorst, in 1536 in fact a " Prioris " lived.
Probably John Prioris is not identical with the " D. Priori organ istae famulo cum suo ", has received two 1491 ducats for services performed in Rome at St. Peter's Basilica. Because there is not the slightest indication that Prioris worked as an organist, and also served Franko Flemings generally not at St Peter's, but in the mean equal to the Sistine Chapel.
The striking fact that a large part of his work is preserved in manuscripts of the Sistine Chapel could be explained with a prolonged stay in Rome the composer. However, 5 of the 7 Vatican manuscripts originated in a time proven stayed as Prioris in France.
Documentary Prioris comprehensible only to the court orchestra of Louis XII. of France. When he has entered into this, is because of the loss of invoices from 1475 to 1515 is not exactly known, occupied the time is from 1503 to at least 1512. Since Crétin Prioris in Deploration on the death of John Ockeghem († 1497 ) mentioned, likely in 1497 be the latest date for it. In the years 1503 and 1507 Prioris will in any case mentioned as Kapellmeister. On June 8, 1503, he handed in Lyon Ferraneser the ambassador to France, a fair for Ercole I d' Este. And in the same year reported the royal court scribe Jean d' Auton, that some officials of the French court be advised on a trip to Genoa with highwaymen in dispute, and " these are the travelers, among them one named Prioris, a conductor, so frightened that he believed that he must die. "
1510 he was appointed first chaplain, but only amulatoire so limited. This office is responsible for the construction of the choir school of Sainte Chapelle was connected. In a Epithaph for Jean Braconnier, dit Lourdault ( 1512) Crétin Prioris is still among the living. Died Prioris but probably before Louis XII († 1515), since the funeral, a certain " Conrad " the post of Kapellmeister held.
The work
Measuring
Motets and liturgical works
Chanson - motet
Secular
Appreciation
Prioris was in his time a highly esteemed musicians, for which not only speaks to the post of bandmaster of the Royal Chapel, he was awarded, but also the high recognition that was bestowed to him by his contemporaries. Crétin mentions him with praise, but also Eloy d' Amerval, Jean Daniel and Rabelais; yet in 1545 decreed the singer Pernot Vermont ( † 1558 ) in his will that ' Requiem will sing to his memory Prioris.
Prioris proves to be a composer with considerable technical skills. His songs show the influence of Antoine Busnoys and Hayne van Ghizeghems while Johannes Ockeghem's influence is evident in the motets and masses. As one of the few cultivated Prioris the chanson - motet. Strong Italian influence is recognizable in Consomo la vita mya, a substitute in the Missa Allez regrets ' and in the Requiem, which is one of the earliest polyphonic settings of requiem.