Philippe de Vitry

Philippe de Vitry (* October 31, 1291 probably in Vitry -en- Artois, † June 9, 1361 in Meaux ) was a French composer, music theorist, poet and a Roman Catholic bishop.

Life

Philippe de Vitry was born on October 31, 1291, if we can trust his own information. Its exact origin is not used because there are several places named Vitry in France. According to the current state of research but applies the location near Arras Vitry -en- Artois as the most likely place of origin. He studied at the Sorbonne and was possibly a pupil of Petrus de Cruce. One of previous visit to the early 14th century, donated Collège d' Arras is suspected. He probably came early in the clergy, and later he was secretary of Charles IV After his death, he served in various French nobles, among other things, at the papal court in Avignon. Vitry was proposed in 1321 for a benefice in Cambrai, which he then held also until at least 1327. By no later than August 1322, he had also a prebend in the collegiate church of Notre-Dame in Clermont -en- Beauvaisis. In subsequent years, accumulate documentary evidence of his work. So from 1327 had a benefice held in Verdun Cathedral, at the latest in 1332 he became canon of Soissons, was also from 1333 onwards in the office of Archdeacon of Brie. There were other benefices to the cathedrals of Beauvais and Paris and at the collegiate in Saint- Omer, Saint- Quentin, Amiens, Vertus ( Saint- Jean) and Paris ( Saint- Méry ). 1351 he was appointed by Pope Clement VI. appointed Bishop of Meaux, where he died in 1361.

Vitry was considered one of the leading intellectuals of his time, he was revered by Petrarch, and was a friend of Johannes de Muris, who was trying to support his musical theories mathematically. As a " classical " artist, he created works of in great shape, always wear the personal artistic handwriting of its author and not - as at that time predominantly still common - religious or social purpose creations. In addition to Guillaume de Machaut, he is the most important French composer of the 14th century.

Work

Of the many writings that are Philippe de Vitry attributed to only the most important dates with the title of the 1322 Ars nova (?) With safety from him. However, this had a very strong influence on the development of mensural music and music theory. The epoch of medieval music in the 14th century, especially in France bears the name of this treatise.

Among his compositions are preserved only about 12, including five early motets from the Roman de Fauvel ( 1317 ). The often cited Masterpiece Tuba - In Arboris is a creed with the juxtaposition of fides (Latin for 'faith' ) and ratio (Latin, reason '). In the motet Hugo - Cum statua he does not hesitate to themselves and to name an opponent by name.

Swell

• The music in the past and present ( MGG )
• Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians