Pierre Sandrin

Initially Sandrin was probably an actor. By 1539 he was dean of the chapter of St. Florent-de-Roye in Picardy and by 1543 was in service to the French court. Historically he is the first known composer to have actually received that title from the French court. This first occurred when he participated in the funeral services of Francis I. Sandrin's name appears on the registers from 1549 until 1560. Interestingly he worked in the chapel but did not compose any sacred music. Extant compositions include approximately fifty chansons and one madrigal. The chansons were written with fragmentary phrases opening the song generally not associated with the remainder of the opening musical phrase or line. He experimented with combining duple and triple meters perhaps with the purpose of textual clarification. Sandrin was an highly respected composer whose music was parodied and copied particularly by lutenists and keyboard performers. Chansons composed by Sandrin were copied in a number of different anthologies and reprinted on numerous occasions. ~ Keith Johnson