Jacobus Barbireau
Encyclopedia
Jacobus Barbireau (1455 – 7 August 1491) was a Franco-Flemish Renaissance
composer from Antwerp. He was considered to be a superlative composer both by his contemporaries and by modern scholars; however, his surviving output is small, and he died young.
, who was active at Ferrara
in the 1470s and later Heidelberg
, and several letters written by Agricola to Barbireau have survived; one of them gives useful clues about Barbireau's life. According to it, Barbireau was already active as a composer by 1484, and implies that his fame had not yet spread outside of his native Antwerp.
In 1484 Barbireau acquired the post of choirmaster at the cathedral in Antwerp, a position he was to keep until his death. Maximilian I
, Holy Roman Emperor, evidently held him in high regard, and when Barbireau went to Buda
in Hungary
in 1490, Queen Beatrix
also spoke highly of him. Evidently his health was weak for about the last nine years of his life. He died in Antwerp, not long after returning from Hungary.
, and that which has survived is of outstanding quality. Writing in the 2001 New Grove, Rob Wegman notes "Barbireau shows a degree of contrapuntal
polish and melodic-harmonic resourcefulness that puts him firmly on a par with such composers as Isaac
and Obrecht
." Indeed his style is closely related to that of Heinrich Isaac, another Netherlander who spent much of his life working in German-speaking areas.
Two mass
es have survived, one for four and one for five voices, as well as a Kyrie
for the Easter
season, and a famous motet
based on the Song of Solomon, Osculetur me, for four voices. The mass for five voices has an unusual arrangement where the voices have divisi parts, indicating that at least ten actual voices would be required to sing it. In this composition the textural contrasts are high, with homophonic
passages alternating with polyphonic, and with fast-moving parts weaving around the slower-moving parts. The motet Osculetur me uses low voice tessitura
s reminiscent of Ockeghem
.
Of his secular music, the song "Een vroylic wesen", for three voices, became a "hit" song all over Europe, appearing in numerous arrangements from places as far apart as Spain, Italy and England; Heinrich Isaac used it as the basis for his own Missa Frölich wesen. Indeed all three of his surviving secular songs were used as the basis for masses, both by Isaac and Jacob Obrecht.
All the three chansons may be found at http://home.planet.nl/~teuli049/petrucciblad.html#bar
Renaissance music
Renaissance music is European music written during the Renaissance. Defining the beginning of the musical era is difficult, given that its defining characteristics were adopted only gradually; musicologists have placed its beginnings from as early as 1300 to as late as the 1470s.Literally meaning...
composer from Antwerp. He was considered to be a superlative composer both by his contemporaries and by modern scholars; however, his surviving output is small, and he died young.
Life
Until the 1960s he was confused with another somewhat older composer named Barbingant; sources of the period often use variant spellings or omit first names of composers, making such confusion common. Barbireau was probably born in Antwerp, and both of his parents were citizens there. By 1482 he had attained the title of Master of Arts, so he likely went to university in the 1470s. He wanted to study with the famous humanist and musician Rodolphus AgricolaRodolphus Agricola
Rodolphus Agricola was a pre-Erasmian humanist of the northern Low Countries, famous for his supple Latin and one of the first north of the Alps to know Greek well...
, who was active at Ferrara
Ferrara
Ferrara is a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. It is situated 50 km north-northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream of the Po River, located 5 km north...
in the 1470s and later Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, and several letters written by Agricola to Barbireau have survived; one of them gives useful clues about Barbireau's life. According to it, Barbireau was already active as a composer by 1484, and implies that his fame had not yet spread outside of his native Antwerp.
In 1484 Barbireau acquired the post of choirmaster at the cathedral in Antwerp, a position he was to keep until his death. Maximilian I
Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian I , the son of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor and Eleanor of Portugal, was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 until his death, though he was never in fact crowned by the Pope, the journey to Rome always being too risky...
, Holy Roman Emperor, evidently held him in high regard, and when Barbireau went to Buda
Buda
For detailed information see: History of Buda CastleBuda is the western part of the Hungarian capital Budapest on the west bank of the Danube. The name Buda takes its name from the name of Bleda the Hun ruler, whose name is also Buda in Hungarian.Buda comprises about one-third of Budapest's...
in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
in 1490, Queen Beatrix
Beatrice of Naples
Beatrice of Naples was the daughter of Ferdinand I of Naples and Isabella of Taranto. She was queen consort to both Matthias Corvinus of Hungary and Vladislaus II of Bohemia and Hungary so she was Queen of Hungary and Bohemia.-Biography:Beatrice received a good education at her father's court in...
also spoke highly of him. Evidently his health was weak for about the last nine years of his life. He died in Antwerp, not long after returning from Hungary.
Music
The library of the cathedral in Antwerp was destroyed by religious fanatics in 1556, probably destroying most of Barbireau's music. Some, however, has survived, mostly in foreign sources, including the Chigi CodexChigi codex
The Chigi codex is a music manuscript originating in Flanders. According to Herbert Kellman, it was created sometime between 1498 and 1503, probably at the behest of Philip I of Castile. It is currently housed in the Vatican Library under the call number Chigiana, C. VIII...
, and that which has survived is of outstanding quality. Writing in the 2001 New Grove, Rob Wegman notes "Barbireau shows a degree of contrapuntal
Counterpoint
In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and rhythm and are harmonically interdependent . It has been most commonly identified in classical music, developing strongly during the Renaissance and in much of the common practice period,...
polish and melodic-harmonic resourcefulness that puts him firmly on a par with such composers as Isaac
Heinrich Isaac
Heinrich Isaac was a Franco-Flemish Renaissance composer of south Netherlandish origin. He wrote masses, motets, songs , and instrumental music. A significant contemporary of Josquin des Prez, Isaac influenced the development of music in Germany...
and Obrecht
Jacob Obrecht
Jacob Obrecht was a Flemish composer of the Renaissance. He was the most famous composer of masses in Europe in the late 15th century, being eclipsed by only Josquin des Prez after his death.-Life:...
." Indeed his style is closely related to that of Heinrich Isaac, another Netherlander who spent much of his life working in German-speaking areas.
Two mass
Mass (music)
The Mass, a form of sacred musical composition, is a choral composition that sets the invariable portions of the Eucharistic liturgy to music...
es have survived, one for four and one for five voices, as well as a Kyrie
Kyrie
Kyrie, a transliteration of Greek κύριε , vocative case of κύριος , meaning "Lord", is the common name of an important prayer of Christian liturgy, which is also called the Kýrie, eléison ....
for the Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
season, and a famous motet
Motet
In classical music, motet is a word that is applied to a number of highly varied choral musical compositions.-Etymology:The name comes either from the Latin movere, or a Latinized version of Old French mot, "word" or "verbal utterance." The Medieval Latin for "motet" is motectum, and the Italian...
based on the Song of Solomon, Osculetur me, for four voices. The mass for five voices has an unusual arrangement where the voices have divisi parts, indicating that at least ten actual voices would be required to sing it. In this composition the textural contrasts are high, with homophonic
Texture (music)
In music, texture is the way the melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic materials are combined in a composition , thus determining the overall quality of sound of a piece...
passages alternating with polyphonic, and with fast-moving parts weaving around the slower-moving parts. The motet Osculetur me uses low voice tessitura
Tessitura
In music, the term tessitura generally describes the most musically acceptable and comfortable range for a given singer or, less frequently, musical instrument; the range in which a given type of voice presents its best-sounding texture or timbre...
s reminiscent of Ockeghem
Johannes Ockeghem
Johannes Ockeghem was the most famous composer of the Franco-Flemish School in the last half of the 15th century, and is often considered the most...
.
Of his secular music, the song "Een vroylic wesen", for three voices, became a "hit" song all over Europe, appearing in numerous arrangements from places as far apart as Spain, Italy and England; Heinrich Isaac used it as the basis for his own Missa Frölich wesen. Indeed all three of his surviving secular songs were used as the basis for masses, both by Isaac and Jacob Obrecht.
Masses and mass movements
- Missa Faulx perverse (4 voices)
- Missa virgo parens Christi (5 voices)
- Kyrie paschale (4 voices)
Secular music
- Een vroylic wesen (3 voices)
- Gracioulx et biaulx (3 voices)
- Scon lief (3 voices)
All the three chansons may be found at http://home.planet.nl/~teuli049/petrucciblad.html#bar