A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Courtois, Jean

by Mary Catherine Hamilton

COURTOIS, Jean, eminent composer, lived in the first half of the 16th century, chapel-master to the Archbishop of Cambray in 1539 when Charles V passed through that city on his way to Ghent, and composed a motet in 4 parts, 'Venite populi terrae,' which was performed in the Cathedral. Eight of his masses are in the Royal Library at Munich, and one in the library at Cambray. He composed many motets, published in the following collections, 'Fior de' Motetti' (Venice 1539); 'Selectissimae … Cantiones' (Augsburg 1540); 'Novum et insigne opus musicum (Nuremberg 1537); 'Liber quartus: XXIX musicales quatuor etc.' (Paris 1534); 'Psalmorum selectorum' (Nuremberg 1539); 'Cantiones sacrae' (Antwerp 1546); and in 3 vols of motets published at Lyons (1532-1538). His French songs include a canon and two songs in 5 and 6 parts in 'Chansons à 4, 5, 6, et 8 parties, de divers auteure' (Antwerp 1543–1550); 'Si par souffrir,' in 'Trente chansons … à 4 parties' (Paris); and two songs in 'Trente-cinq livres de Chansons nouvelles' (Paris 1532–1549).

[ M. C. C. ]