Claudin de Sermisy

This French composer of the Renaissance scored at least twelve masses and numerous motets, and chansons. Sermisy was highly respected among his contemporaries and classified along with the great Josquin. His renown was not only found among the French, some who considered him the grand master, expert and magnificent composer, but also among the Ferrarese court. Of his one hundred and ten sacred works and one hundred and seventy five songs, Sermisy grew to accept the importance of the clarity of the text changing from melismatic writing with various rhythms to syllabic composing with homorhythmic textures. The influence of these works, the motets, was far spread. He himself used them when he composed his parody masses and some of the motets were found in the court of the kings of Portugal, in Henry VIII's court as a supplication, as well as in Ferrara. Characteristics of Sermisy's chansons include folk-like melodies, free and easy rhythms, homophonic harmonies, and simple four-voiced settings. The dominant pattern of his chansons was ABCAA though ABCDD and ABCAA' were variations. Works by Sermisy were often printed outside of France. ~ Keith Johnson