Janequin, Clément 01/01/1485 - 01/01/1558

Clément Janequin (1485-1558) was a French composer of the Renaissance. Nothing is known about his youth. After 1505 he was a clergyman in the service of the humanist Lancelot du Fau.



After 1530 he concentrated more on song composition, which gained him popularity, and he was appointed the ‘Chantre du Roi’ for François I in Bordeaux. In 1534 he joined his brother Simon in Angers, where he became maestro di cappella at the Cathedral of Angers. There he published at least four volumes of his ‘Chansons’, two masses, c.150 motets, and 250 songs where he used descriptive effects, such as onomatopoeia, fanfares, and birdsong.



In 1549 he entered the service of the Duke de Guise, and six years later joined the royal court of Henri II.