Jean Braconnier
Encyclopedia
Jean Braconnier (d. just before January 22, 1512) was a French
singer and composer of the Renaissance
. Little of his music has survived, but he had a considerable reputation as a singer, and Guillaume Crétin
wrote an elegy on his death.
of Burgundy
, and traveled to Spain in both 1501 and 1506 with Philip. In January 1506 he became a priest.
While in Spain, he was involved in a street brawl, which resulted in the death of one of his attackers. Along with another of the entourage of Philip, he was assaulted by twenty or more armed Spaniards, who had previously harassed him during dinner. According to the account published in the 19th century by Louis Prosper Gachard
from anonymous chronicles written during Philip's voyages, the attacking Spaniards were armed with shields, rapiers, and spears, but Braconnier and his companion fought so capably that they deprived some of the attackers of their weapons and injured them with them. After the fight, Braconnier and his companion sought refuge in the Monastery of St. Bernard, not far from Toledo
. Queen Joanna of Castile
pardoned them because they fought in self-defense, and one of the attackers died after the fight from his wounds.
Braconnier left Spain in September 1506, on the death of Philip, and several months later appeared in France with the singers attached to King Louis XII of France
, and went with them to Italy, where Louis was engaged in a military campaign, and he evidently remained with the French court for the rest of his life. The date of his death is inferred from the many documents which involve the disposition of his benefices, which were numerous: evidently he was well liked by both the king and the ecclesiastical powers.
, who died around the same time, indicates his fame as a singer and composer. It also gives the source of his nickname: a chanson, probably by Loyset Compère
, called Lourdault, lourdault ("clod, clod"). Only one of Braconnier's compositions has survived with a certain attribution: a chanson
, Amours me trocte par la pancé, which is a skillful polyphonic
composition in four parts, with an obscene subtext: it contains numerous references to intercourse in various positions, minimally disguised in the text. As with many of the minor composers of the time, many of Braconnier's compositions may have survived either anonymously or misattributed.
Music of France
France has a wide variety of indigenous folk music, as well as styles played by immigrants from Africa, Latin America and Asia. In the field of classical music, France has produced a number of legendary composers, while modern pop music has seen the rise of popular French hip hop, techno/funk,...
singer and composer of the Renaissance
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...
. Little of his music has survived, but he had a considerable reputation as a singer, and Guillaume Crétin
Guillaume Crétin
-Life:He was treasurer of the Sainte-Chapelle de Vincennes, then cantor of the Sainte-Chapelle de Paris and ordinary almoner to Francis I of France....
wrote an elegy on his death.
Life
The first record mentioning him is from the court of Duke René II of Lorraine in 1478, and he was still in the area in 1485, since payment records survive showing that he was employed as a singer in Nancy at the chapel of St. Georges between that year and 1506. However he occasionally left for travels. In 1496 he joined the chapel of Philip the FairPhilip I of Castile
Philip I , known as Philip the Handsome or the Fair, was the first Habsburg King of Castile...
of Burgundy
Duke of Burgundy
Duke of Burgundy was a title borne by the rulers of the Duchy of Burgundy, a small portion of traditional lands of Burgundians west of river Saône which in 843 was allotted to Charles the Bald's kingdom of West Franks...
, and traveled to Spain in both 1501 and 1506 with Philip. In January 1506 he became a priest.
While in Spain, he was involved in a street brawl, which resulted in the death of one of his attackers. Along with another of the entourage of Philip, he was assaulted by twenty or more armed Spaniards, who had previously harassed him during dinner. According to the account published in the 19th century by Louis Prosper Gachard
Louis Prosper Gachard
Louis Prosper Gachard , Belgian man of letters, was born in Paris.He entered the administration of the royal archives in 1826, and was appointed director-general, a post which he held for fifty-five years...
from anonymous chronicles written during Philip's voyages, the attacking Spaniards were armed with shields, rapiers, and spears, but Braconnier and his companion fought so capably that they deprived some of the attackers of their weapons and injured them with them. After the fight, Braconnier and his companion sought refuge in the Monastery of St. Bernard, not far from Toledo
Toledo, Spain
Toledo's Alcázar became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces.-Economy:...
. Queen Joanna of Castile
Joanna of Castile
Joanna , nicknamed Joanna the Mad , was the first queen regnant to reign over both the Crown of Castile and the Crown of Aragon , a union which evolved into modern Spain...
pardoned them because they fought in self-defense, and one of the attackers died after the fight from his wounds.
Braconnier left Spain in September 1506, on the death of Philip, and several months later appeared in France with the singers attached to King Louis XII of France
Louis XII of France
Louis proved to be a popular king. At the end of his reign the crown deficit was no greater than it had been when he succeeded Charles VIII in 1498, despite several expensive military campaigns in Italy. His fiscal reforms of 1504 and 1508 tightened and improved procedures for the collection of taxes...
, and went with them to Italy, where Louis was engaged in a military campaign, and he evidently remained with the French court for the rest of his life. The date of his death is inferred from the many documents which involve the disposition of his benefices, which were numerous: evidently he was well liked by both the king and the ecclesiastical powers.
Music
Guillaume Crétin's poem, which also serves as a lament for Antoine de FévinAntoine de Févin
Antoine de Févin was a French composer of the Renaissance. He was active at the same time as Josquin des Prez, and shares many traits with his more famous contemporary.-Life:...
, who died around the same time, indicates his fame as a singer and composer. It also gives the source of his nickname: a chanson, probably by Loyset Compère
Loyset Compère
Loyset Compère was a French composer of the Renaissance. Of the same generation as Josquin des Prez, he was one of the most significant composers of motets and chansons of that era, and one of the first musicians to bring the light Italianate Renaissance style to France.-Life:His exact place of...
, called Lourdault, lourdault ("clod, clod"). Only one of Braconnier's compositions has survived with a certain attribution: a chanson
Chanson
A chanson is in general any lyric-driven French song, usually polyphonic and secular. A singer specialising in chansons is known as a "chanteur" or "chanteuse" ; a collection of chansons, especially from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, is also known as a chansonnier.-Chanson de geste:The...
, Amours me trocte par la pancé, which is a skillful polyphonic
Polyphony
In music, polyphony is a texture consisting of two or more independent melodic voices, as opposed to music with just one voice or music with one dominant melodic voice accompanied by chords ....
composition in four parts, with an obscene subtext: it contains numerous references to intercourse in various positions, minimally disguised in the text. As with many of the minor composers of the time, many of Braconnier's compositions may have survived either anonymously or misattributed.