Pierre Moulu
Encyclopedia
Pierre Moulu was a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance
who was active in France
, probably in Paris
.
, on the Marne east of Paris. He composed music for ceremonial occasions, for example a sombre lament for the death of Queen Anne of Brittany
(1514), and he also composed a motet
which lists all the composers which he considered to be the most celebrated in France, arranged chronologically, and ending with Josquin. Documents from the Vatican (1505–1513) help establish his identity, as they indicate that a "Petrus Moulu" held various clerical positions at Meaux Cathedral. He may have written his mass Stephane gloriose, for the cathedral of St Etienne (Saint Stephen) in this town.
, La Déploration sur la mort Ockeghem. Moulu's music shows the style of pervasive imitation
and smooth polyphony
with exactly equal voices which was prevalent in the generation after Josquin (well exemplified by, and perhaps most famous in, the music of Nicolas Gombert
).
Of Moulu's music, five mass
es survive, the most famous being his mass on the Marian antiphon Alma Redemptoris Mater, which can be sung in two different manners: with or without rests longer than a quarter. The latest discovery is the mass Paranymphus, based on a motet by Loyset Compère
. In addition to the masses, Moulu wrote motets and chanson
s, some of which are of doubtful authorship (Mouton
and Josquin are also suggested as the composer for several of these pieces).
In addition some works of Moulu have survived without text. For example, as late as 1592, an untexted 3-voice canon appears in Lodovico Zacconi
's Prattica de musica under the name 'Pietro Molu'. This canon already appeared in 1503, printed by Petrucci, so Moulu's atrribution is very unlikely.
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...
who was active in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, probably in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Life
Little is known of his life, but internal evidence in his compositions indicates he was probably at the French royal chapel during the first two decades of the 16th century, at least, and was also associated with the cathedral in MeauxMeaux
Meaux is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located east-northeast from the center of Paris. Meaux is a sub-prefecture of the department and the seat of an arondissement...
, on the Marne east of Paris. He composed music for ceremonial occasions, for example a sombre lament for the death of Queen Anne of Brittany
Anne of Brittany
Anne, Duchess of Brittany , also known as Anna of Brittany , was a Breton ruler, who was to become queen to two successive French kings. She was born in Nantes, Brittany, and was the daughter of Francis II, Duke of Brittany and Margaret of Foix. Her maternal grandparents were Queen Eleanor of...
(1514), and he also composed a 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...
which lists all the composers which he considered to be the most celebrated in France, arranged chronologically, and ending with Josquin. Documents from the Vatican (1505–1513) help establish his identity, as they indicate that a "Petrus Moulu" held various clerical positions at Meaux Cathedral. He may have written his mass Stephane gloriose, for the cathedral of St Etienne (Saint Stephen) in this town.
Music
Moulu's music was clearly influenced by Josquin, and though Pierre Ronsard wrote that Moulu studied with Josquin, no documentary evidence survives to substantiate this claim. The motet Anxiatus est in me spiritus meus which laments Queen Anne's death is modeled on a similar, and much more famous composition by Josquin for the death of OckeghemJohannes 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...
, La Déploration sur la mort Ockeghem. Moulu's music shows the style of pervasive imitation
Imitation (music)
In music, imitation is when a melody in a polyphonic texture is repeated shortly after its first appearance in a different voice, usually at a different pitch. The melody may vary through transposition, inversion, or otherwise, but retain its original character...
and smooth polyphony
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 ....
with exactly equal voices which was prevalent in the generation after Josquin (well exemplified by, and perhaps most famous in, the music of Nicolas Gombert
Nicolas Gombert
Nicolas Gombert was a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance. He was one of the most famous and influential composers between Josquin des Prez and Palestrina, and best represents the fully developed, complex polyphonic style of this period in music history.-Life:Details of his early life are...
).
Of Moulu's music, five 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 survive, the most famous being his mass on the Marian antiphon Alma Redemptoris Mater, which can be sung in two different manners: with or without rests longer than a quarter. The latest discovery is the mass Paranymphus, based on a motet 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...
. In addition to the masses, Moulu wrote motets and 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...
s, some of which are of doubtful authorship (Mouton
Jean Mouton
Jean Mouton was a French composer of the Renaissance. He was famous both for his motets, which are among the most refined of the time, and for being the teacher of Adrian Willaert, one of the founders of the Venetian School....
and Josquin are also suggested as the composer for several of these pieces).
Masses
- Missa Alma Redemptoris mater, 4vv
- Missa Missus est Gabriel angelus (based on the motet by Josquin), 4vv
- Missa Mittit ad virginem, 4vv
- Missa Paranymphus (based on the motet by Compère), 4vv
- Missa Stephane gloriose, 4vv
Motets
- Adest nobis dies laetitiae, 4vv;
- Alleluia, Regem ascendentem, 4vv;
- Domine Dominus noster, 4vv; (by Mouton)
- Fiere attropos, 5vv;
- Induta est caro mea, 4vv;
- In hoc ego sperabo, 3vv;
- In illo tempore, 4vv; (probably by Mouton)
- In omni tribulatione, 4vv; (by Mouton)
- In pace, 5vv;
- Mater floreat florescat, 4vv;
- Ne projicias, 6vv;
- Oculi omnium, 3vv;
- O dulcis amica Dei, 5vv;
- Oremus pro conctis, 4vv;
- Quam dilecta, 3vv;
- Quam pulchra es 4vv; (also attributed to Mouton)
- Regina caeli, 4vv;
- Salve Barbara martyr, 7vv;
- Salve regina Barbara, 4vv;
- Sancta Maria, Dei mater, 4vv; (only alt-voice)
- Saule, Saule, quid me persequeris, 4vv; (by Jean le Brung)
- Sicut malus, 3vv;
- Tu licet (same as the 'Crucifixus' from the Missa Alma Redemptoris mater), 2vv;
- Virgo carens criminibus, 4vv; (by Andreas de Silva)
- Vivo ego, 3vv;
- Vulnerasti cor meum, 5vv.
Chansons
- Amy souffrez, 3vv; (by Heinrich Isaac)
- Au bois, au bois, madame, 4vv;
- En despit des faux mesdisans, 6vv;
- Et dout venès vous, 3vv;
- Hellas, hellas madame, 4vv;
- J'ay mis mon cueur, 7vv; (probably by Descaudain)
- La rousée de moys de may, 6vv; (by Mouton)
- N'aymés jamais ces gens, 3vv;
- Voicy le may, 4vv.
In addition some works of Moulu have survived without text. For example, as late as 1592, an untexted 3-voice canon appears in Lodovico Zacconi
Lodovico Zacconi
Lodovico Zacconi was an Italian-Austrian composer and musical theorist of the late Renaissance and early Baroque eras...
's Prattica de musica under the name 'Pietro Molu'. This canon already appeared in 1503, printed by Petrucci, so Moulu's atrribution is very unlikely.
Recordings
- Capilla Flamenca, The A-La-Mi-Re Manuscripts, Flemish Polyphonic Treasures for Charles V. Naxos CD 8.554744. Contains the motet Mater floreat florescat.
- The Brabant Ensemble, Stephen Rice (conductor), Missa Alma redemptoris & Missus est Gabriel, Hyperion RecordsHyperion RecordsHyperion Records is an independent British classical record label.-History:The company was named after Hyperion, one of the Titans of Greek mythology. It was founded by George Edward Perry, widely known as "Ted", in 1980. Early LP releases included rarely recorded 20th century British music by...
, Hyperion CDA 67761