A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Fruytiers, Jan

by Mary Catherine Hamilton

FRUYTIERS, Jan, Flemish poet and musician of the 16th century, was living at Antwerp in 1565. He was a Lutheran, and author of the words and music of 'Ecclesiasticus oft de wijse sproken Jesu des soons Syrach, etc.' (Antwerp, Selvius, 1565), a metrical translation of the book of Ecclesiasticus. The music is printed in the fine type of Plantin. This scarce book is the more remarkable as it was published by permission of Margaret of Parma, Governess of the Netherlands, only a few months before she enforced the decrees against the heretics which brought about the War of the Gueux. The melodies are chiefly popular Flemish airs. The 35th Cantique (Ecclus. xxiv) is set to a French dance of the l5th century, called 'L'homme armé,'—not to be confounded with the celebrated song of the same name, so often used as a theme for entire masses by composers of the 15th and 16th centuries. The song is in 3-2 time, the dance in 2-4, and in the form of a round. [L'Homme Armé.]

[ M. C. C. ]