Gilles Binchois, also de Bins, Binch, Binche, (before 1400 in Mons (?); † September 20, 1460 in Soignies, diocese of Cambrai), was a Franco-Flemish composer, poet, and cleric of the Renaissance (pictured, the person on the right, dressed in red). Nothing is known about his youth. Binchois may have received his first education around the Mons court. He was first noted in the account books of St. Waudru where he played the organ on December 18, 1419. Binchois probably also received training as a chorister there. He performed his organist duties until 1423; in that year he probably left Mons for Lilles where he came into contact with the English occupiers. He probably entered the service of the Earl and later Duke of Suffolk (William Pole, 1396-1450). In April 1425, Binchois accompanied the English Earl to Hainault where the Earl was to mediate in the disputes between the houses of Gloucester and Burgundy. It may be that Binchois had been a soldier (hardly serving in arms) during his younger years. It is not possible to determine with certainty when he finally joined the Burgundian court chapel but in any case he remained there actively until 1542 and nominally until his death. He received ecclesiastical dignities as subdeacon and finally provost of the collegiate monastery Saint-Vincent in Soignies where he had numerous benefices in addition to other income. In 1460 Binchois fell seriously ill and died on September 20. He left a considerable fortune.
Along with Guillaume Dufay and John Dunstable, Gilles Binchois is the third outstanding musical phenomenon in the first half of the 15th century. Along with Dufay, Binchois is the most prominent representative of the first generation of Franco-Flemish music. Binchois' very extensive oeuvre is spread over more than 50 manuscripts, covering a period of almost a century. The main emphasis of Binchois' work has long been seen in the field of secular music (chansons and other pieces); nevertheless, sacred works also make up a considerable proportion here (Binchois' function as chaplain [subdeacon] obliged him to do so). On the one hand, many of his chansons are characterized by a pronounced freshness but on the other hand, there is also a deep melancholy in them,which was a basic trait of the era.
