Jacob Arcadelt

J.A. VÖLKER
Transcribed by Frère Gilles Beaudet (Christian Brothers)

This article is reprinted here with the kind permission of Kevin Knight, who has undertaken a project to transcribe an online version of the 1907 Catholic Encyclopedia.

(Also ARCHADELT, ARKADELT, HARCADELT)

A distinguished musician, born in Holland at the close of the fifteenth or at the beginning of the sixteenth century; died probably in Paris, between 1570 and 1575. He grew up under the influence of Josquin des Prez and the Belgian School. He began his career as a singer at the court of Florence. In 1539 he went to Rome and became singing-master of the boys' choir at Saint Peter's, and the following year entered the Papal choir as a singer. Here he remained till 1549. In 1555, his services having been engaged by Cardinal Charles of Lorraine, Duke of Guise, he followed him to Paris, where he probably remained until his death. He is mentioned, at this period, as regius musicus (Court Musician).

Of his numerous compositions a large proportion have been published. Foremost among these are his six books of madrigals for five voices (Venice, 1538-56), each book containing at least forty compositions. They are his finest and most characteristic works, and, together with three volumes of masses for from three to seven voices (Paris, 1557), are perhaps his chief claim to lasting renown. An excellent copy of the first four books of the madrigals, with other selected compositions of Arcadelt, is contained in the library of the British Museum. At Paris and Lyons many of his French songs were published, including L'excellence des chansons musicales (Lyons, 1572) and Chansons françaises à plusieurs parties (Lyons, 1586).

He was one of those distinguished musicians of the Netherlands who by their efforts to advance their art in Italy, both as teachers and composer, helped to lay the foundations of the great Italian school.

BAKER, Biog. Dict. of Musicians; HOEFER, Biog. Univ. GROVE, Dict. of Music and Musicians; RIEMANN, Dict. of Music; NAUMANN, Geschichte der Musik.

J.A. VÖLKER
Transcribed by Frère Gilles Beaudet (Christian Brothers)

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume I
Copyright © 1911 by Robert Appleton Company
Online Edition Copyright © 1999 by Kevin Knight
Nihil Obstat, February 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor
Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York
Reprinted by permission of copyright owner.