Pierre de Manchicourt (c. 1510 – 5 October 1564) was aRenaissance composer of theFranco-Flemish School.
De Manchicourt was born atBéthune. Little is known of his early life other than that he was a choirboy atArras in 1525. Further biographical information is scant, however the title-pages of his publications reveal that between 1539 and 1556 he held a succession of posts in Arras,Tours andTournai, before going toSpain to be master of theFlemish chapel (capilla flamenca) at the court ofPhilip II, where he stayed for the remainder of his life.[1]
Similar to many composers of the early to mid 16th century, he predominantly wrotemasses,motets andchansons. His motets are particularly significant as they show the three separate stages of early sixteenth century motet development, highly unusual to find in the work of a single composer. In his earliest motets one can hear the influence ofOckeghem; in his middle period works, the paired imitation style ofJosquin des Prez; and in his late works the stylistic refinement, well-crafted melodic lines and pervasive imitation recallGombert.
Manchicourt is an excellent example of a Franco-Flemish composer who learned his craft and art in northern Europe, and then assisted in the diffusion of the style by traveling to another region and composing and performing there. The movement of these many skilled composers out of Flanders and northern France created what was one of the first truly international styles since the original diffusion ofGregorian chant during the reign ofCharlemagne.
He died inMadrid and was succeeded as maestro de capilla byJean de Bonmarché.
