Estienne Grossin

Grossin was probably an older contemporary of Dufay. He was one of the chaplains at the church of St Merry in Paris (1418), and by 1421 was a chorister at the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Paris. He primarily composed sacred music though chansons, a rondeau and a motet, were among his works. The rondeau was "Va t'ent, souspier" and the chanson, "Tres douchement et soutiement," was a through composed piece. A sacred motet written by Grossin was "Imera dat hodierno" which is fortunately extant. Most of his music, like the motet, were sacred pieces. He contended with masses and mass movements though the masses are four parts on the Ordinary of the Mass, excepting the Agnus Dei. The movements are written for vocal duets with either a trumpetta or full chorus supporting the duet. Grossin would alternate between the two supports. In one example of a Gloria (four exist), the movement ends with a near vocal cadenza, unlike any of his other three Gloria movements. ~ Keith Johnson