Arnold de Lantins
Encyclopedia
Arnold de Lantins was a Franco–Flemish composer of the late medieval and early Renaissance
eras. He is one of a few composers who shows aspects of both medieval and Renaissance style, and was a contemporary of Dufay
during Dufay's sojourn in Italy.
Very little is known about his life, except for a few years in the 1420s to around 1430. It is presumed that he was from Flanders
or adjacent areas. In the early 1420s he was probably in the service of the Malatesta
family in either Rimini
or Pesaro
, since Dufay mentioned him in the text of a rondeau
which was written between 1420 and 1424. Lantins was in Venice
in 1428 and Rome
in 1431, in the latter city as a singer in the papal chapel choir, along with Dufay. He was only in Rome six months; after that he disappears from history. Rome was entering a period of turmoil related to the Conciliar movement
after the death, in February 1431, of Pope Martin V
; many musicians left at that time or shortly after, and Lantins may have been one of them.
It is not known for certain if Arnold de Lantins was a relative of Hugo de Lantins
, a composer active at the same time, but since their works often appear together in collections and they seem to have been in the same geographical regions, it is not unlikely, however a sharp stylistic difference between the works of the two composers shows they can not be the same person.
Lantin's music was held in high regard, and appears alongside that of Dufay, Gilles Binchois
and Johannes Ciconia
in contemporary manuscript collections. In particular, one motet
— Tota pulchra es — is found in widely distributed sources; since this was before the advent of printing technology, wide distribution of copies is taken as evidence of a composer's fame and popularity. Arnold wrote a complete mass
, found in Bologna Q15 (all the movements are found in OX 213 although the last two movements are separated – only the first three movements are found in Bologna 2216), as well as several parts of a composite mass in Bologna Q15, augmenting movements written by Johannes Ciconia
. Several other examples exist of composers adding movements to partial masses written by other composers, for example Zacara da Teramo
, particularly in Bologna Q15. Musically Arnold's mass movements are fairly simple, using three voices, head motif technique, and avoiding imitative
writing. Some of his other sacred music, such as his Marian motets, contain florid melodic writing and some use of imitation.
He also wrote secular music, including ballade
s and rondeau
x, all of which are in French
, as well as a few shorter sacred pieces. Some of them refer to specific events or specific people, but none of either have been conclusively identified.
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
eras. He is one of a few composers who shows aspects of both medieval and Renaissance style, and was a contemporary of Dufay
Guillaume Dufay
Guillaume Dufay was a Franco-Flemish composer of the early Renaissance. As the central figure in the Burgundian School, he was the most famous and influential composer in Europe in the mid-15th century.-Early life:From the evidence of his will, he was probably born in Beersel, in the vicinity of...
during Dufay's sojourn in Italy.
Very little is known about his life, except for a few years in the 1420s to around 1430. It is presumed that he was from Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
or adjacent areas. In the early 1420s he was probably in the service of the Malatesta
House of Malatesta
The House of Malatesta was an Italian family that ruled over Rimini from 1295 until 1500, as well as other lands and towns in Romagna.Malatesta da Verucchio The House of Malatesta was an Italian family that ruled over Rimini from 1295 until 1500, as well as (in different periods) other lands and...
family in either Rimini
Rimini
Rimini is a medium-sized city of 142,579 inhabitants in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, and capital city of the Province of Rimini. It is located on the Adriatic Sea, on the coast between the rivers Marecchia and Ausa...
or Pesaro
Pesaro
Pesaro is a town and comune in the Italian region of the Marche, capital of the Pesaro e Urbino province, on the Adriatic. According to the 2007 census, its population was 92,206....
, since Dufay mentioned him in the text of a rondeau
Rondeau (poetry)
This article is about the poetry form. For other uses, see Rondeau.A rondeau is a form of French poetry with 15 lines written on two rhymes, as well as a corresponding musical form developed to set this characteristic verse structure...
which was written between 1420 and 1424. Lantins was in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
in 1428 and Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1431, in the latter city as a singer in the papal chapel choir, along with Dufay. He was only in Rome six months; after that he disappears from history. Rome was entering a period of turmoil related to the Conciliar movement
Conciliarism
Conciliarism, or the conciliar movement, was a reform movement in the 14th, 15th and 16th century Roman Catholic Church which held that final authority in spiritual matters resided with the Roman Church as a corporation of Christians, embodied by a general church council, not with the pope...
after the death, in February 1431, of Pope Martin V
Pope Martin V
Pope Martin V , born Odo Colonna, was Pope from 1417 to 1431. His election effectively ended the Western Schism .-Biography:...
; many musicians left at that time or shortly after, and Lantins may have been one of them.
It is not known for certain if Arnold de Lantins was a relative of Hugo de Lantins
Hugo de Lantins
Hugo de Lantins was a Franco-Flemish composer of the late Medieval era and early Renaissance. He was active in Italy, especially Venice, and wrote both sacred and secular music; he may have been a relative of Arnold de Lantins, another composer active at the same time in the same area.Little is...
, a composer active at the same time, but since their works often appear together in collections and they seem to have been in the same geographical regions, it is not unlikely, however a sharp stylistic difference between the works of the two composers shows they can not be the same person.
Lantin's music was held in high regard, and appears alongside that of Dufay, Gilles Binchois
Gilles Binchois
Gilles de Binche , also known as Gilles de Bins , was a Franco-Flemish composer, one of the earliest members of the Burgundian School, and one of the three most famous composers of the early 15th century...
and Johannes Ciconia
Johannes Ciconia
Johannes Ciconia was a late medieval composer and music theorist who worked most of his adult life in Italy, particularly in the service of the Papal Chapels and at the cathedral of Padua....
in contemporary manuscript collections. In particular, one motet
Motet
In classical music, motet is a word that is applied to a number of highly varied choral musical compositions.-Etymology:The name comes either from the Latin movere, or a Latinized version of Old French mot, "word" or "verbal utterance." The Medieval Latin for "motet" is motectum, and the Italian...
— Tota pulchra es — is found in widely distributed sources; since this was before the advent of printing technology, wide distribution of copies is taken as evidence of a composer's fame and popularity. Arnold wrote a complete mass
Mass (music)
The Mass, a form of sacred musical composition, is a choral composition that sets the invariable portions of the Eucharistic liturgy to music...
, found in Bologna Q15 (all the movements are found in OX 213 although the last two movements are separated – only the first three movements are found in Bologna 2216), as well as several parts of a composite mass in Bologna Q15, augmenting movements written by Johannes Ciconia
Johannes Ciconia
Johannes Ciconia was a late medieval composer and music theorist who worked most of his adult life in Italy, particularly in the service of the Papal Chapels and at the cathedral of Padua....
. Several other examples exist of composers adding movements to partial masses written by other composers, for example Zacara da Teramo
Zacara da Teramo
Antonio Zacara da Teramo was an Italian composer, singer, and papal secretary of the late Trecento and early 15th century...
, particularly in Bologna Q15. Musically Arnold's mass movements are fairly simple, using three voices, head motif technique, and avoiding imitative
Imitation (music)
In music, imitation is when a melody in a polyphonic texture is repeated shortly after its first appearance in a different voice, usually at a different pitch. The melody may vary through transposition, inversion, or otherwise, but retain its original character...
writing. Some of his other sacred music, such as his Marian motets, contain florid melodic writing and some use of imitation.
He also wrote secular music, including ballade
Ballade
The ballade is a form of French poetry. It was one of the three formes fixes and one of the verse forms in France most commonly set to music between the late 13th and the 15th centuries....
s and rondeau
Rondeau (music)
The rondeau was a Medieval and early Renaissance musical form, based on the contemporary popular poetic rondeau form. It is distinct from the 18th century rondo, though the terms are likely related...
x, all of which are in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, as well as a few shorter sacred pieces. Some of them refer to specific events or specific people, but none of either have been conclusively identified.
Recording
- Arnold de Lantins, Missa Verbum Incarnatum, Ricercar CD RIC 207, by the Capilla FlamencaCapilla FlamencaCapilla Flamenca is a vocal and instrumental early music consort based in Leuven, Belgium. The group specialises in 14th to 16th Century music from Flanders and takes its name from the choir of the court chapel of Emperor Charles V...
, PsallentesPsallentesPsallentes is a Gregorian chant ensemble founded in 2000 and based in Leuven, Belgium.-Members:Psallentes consists of singers Conor Biggs, Lieven Deroo, Pieter Coene, Paul Schils and Philippe Souvagie and is directed by Hendrik Vanden Abeele....
and Oltremontano. Also contains the motet O pulcherrina mulierum, as well as music by Johannes BrassartJohannes BrassartJohannes Brassart was a Burgundian composer of the early Renaissance. Of his output, only sacred vocal music has survived, and it typifies early 15th century practice.- Life :...
and Johannes CesarisJohannes CesarisJohannes Cesaris was a French composer of the late Medieval era and early Renaissance. He was one of the composers of the transitional style between the two epochs, and was active at the Burgundian court in the early 15th century....
. - Listen to a free recording of a song from Umeå Akademiska Kör.
External links
- Free access to high-resolution images of manuscripts containing works by this composer from Digital Image Archive of Medieval Music