Gilles Binchois

Binchois (r) with Dufay (l)

Alias: Gilles de Binche

Life

Born: c.1400, in or near Mons, Belgium

Died: 20 September 1460, in Soignies, Belgium

Biography

Gilles de Binche (called Binchois), a Franco-Flemish composer of the early Burgundian school, was one of the three most famous composers of the early 15th century, along with Guillaume Dufay and John Dunstable.

From c.1419 through 1423 he was organist at Ste. Waudru, Mons; later he was in the service of the Duke of Suffolk in Paris (1424/5) and may have traveled with him to England. From some time before 1431 through 1453 he was chaplain at the Court of Burgundy. He was also a canon at a church in Mons together with Dufay, whom he undoubtedly came to know in middle life.

Binchois is known to have written some twenty-eight Mass sections, four Magnificats, some thirty motets and hymn settings and around 55 chansons. His chansons are particularly remarkable, and he ranks with Dufay as a major exponent of the form. Many of them have a rather sad, nostalgic quality, the texts treating of unrequited love in the somewhat stilted manner of the courtly tradition. Often highly formal, he nevertheless often achieves a noteworthy depth of feeling.

Mort tu as navré de ton dart was composed in his memory by Johannes Ockeghem.

View the Wikipedia article on Gilles Binchois.

List of choral works

• A solis ortus cardine a 3
• A solis ortus cardine a 4
• Adieu mon amoureuse joye
• L'ami de ma dame
• Amours merchi
• De plus en plus se renouvelle
• Dueil angoisseux
• Je me recommande
• Magnificat 3ii Toni
• Magnificat primi toni
• Mon seul et souverain desir
• Se jeusse
• Se la belle
• Veni Creator Spiritus
• Virgo rosa

 
Click here to search for this composer on CPDL

External links

• Works by Gilles Binchois in the Petrucci Music Library (IMSLP)