Josquin and the Sublime

Albert Clement, Eric Jas

The principal goal of this collection is to investigate and discover elements in Josquin's musical style that have won the composer his unequalled reputation, a reputation that has been described in the most laudatory words from the beginning of the 16th century onwards. If Josquin's talent 'has brought all the arts to life' (anonymous distich, Basilica of S. Sisto in Piacenca, 1514) indeed, if 'his genius is indescribable and we can be amazed at it more than we can treat it worthily' (Glarean, Dodecachordon), and if he truly 'has opened the eyes of all those who rejoice in his art or who will rejoice in the future' (Cosimo Bartoli, Ragionamenti accademici), then we can safely state that many of his compositions must be nothing less than 'sublime'.