Profile of Guillaume Dufay

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.