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Profile of Guillaume Dufay

By Espie Estrella, About.com

Born: August 5, 1397
Birthplace: Bersele, Belgium
Died: November 27, 1474 in Kamerijk/Cambrai, Belgium
Also known as: Premier composer of the 15th century.
Type of Compositions: Wrote mostly secular music mostly in French. Some of his early works are ballads while his later works comprised of Virelais.
Influences: Nicolas Malin, master of the choirboys at the Cambrai Cathedral where Dufay spent his youth as a choirboy.
Musical Work: Among his works are 7 complete masses, 28 individual Mass movements, 3 Magnificants, 2 Benedicamus Domino settings, 15 antiphon settings, 15 settings of chant used in Mass Propers, 87 chansons and chanson like secular pieces, 22 motets and 27 hymns.
Interesting Fact: Upon Dufays' request, some of his liturgical work was played at his funeral. Among these are his Missa de requiem and Ave Regina celorum.

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