He wrote many volumes of church music. His works were completely edited by P. Jackson and G. Nugent in the Corpus Mensurabilis Musicae in 1970–82. They include a joint publication with the Flemish-born Venetian polyphonist Adriaen Willaert of Vespers psalms for double choir (1550) and the following solo-publications, all in Venice: a “flower masses” “Messe del fiore ... libro Primo” for 5 voices, 1561 and various collections of motecta (Motets) from 1539, 1540, 1544 and 1545
Biography
This French-born (Norman) major composer of church music (dates vary somewhat according to the source) probably came to Italy between 1513 and 1515, was a singer in the service of the Rangoni family in Modena, having worked for Sigismondo d’Este at Ferrara in 1517. Around 1525 he moved to Mantua, joining Bishop Ercole Gonzaga’s chapel by 1526 and became citizen in 1534, when he was appointed maestro di cappella at Mantuas Ss. Peter and Paul cathedral from 1539 till his death.
P.S. He should not be confused with the Flemish polyphonist Jacquet van Berchem.
[This contribution is mainly based on the article on him in N. Slominsky, The Concise Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, 8th ed., Schirmer Books, NY, 1994 and the below-linking HOASM-site.]
