Jean Richafort (c. 1480 –c. 1547) was aNetherlandishcomposer of theRenaissance, a member of the third generation of theFranco-Flemish School.
He was probably born inHainaut, and his native language appears to have been French. According to the poetRonsard, Richafort studied withJosquin des Prez, an association further borne out by the fact that he composed a requiem "in memoriam Josquin Desprez". Richafort served as choir master atSt. Rumbold's Cathedral inMechelen between 1507 and 1509, and at St. Giles' church inBruges between 1542 and 1547—leaving a huge gap in the record of his activity. At some time between these dates he was associated with theFrench royal chapel, since some of his music is for official occasions connected withLouis XII, and there is some evidence he may have been inBrussels in 1531 in the service of QueenMary of Hungary, who was regent there.
Musically, Richafort was a representative of the first generation after Josquin, and he followed his style in many ways. In some of his music he used fragments of Josquin's compositions as a tribute. Richafort's compositional techniques are typical of the period (smoothpolyphony, pervasiveimitation, etc.) but he was unusually attentive to the clear setting of text so the words could be understood.
He wrote arequiem for six voices (Requiem in memoriam Josquin des Prez, 1532),masses,motets, settings of theMagnificat, two secular motets, andchansons.
