What is Johannes Ockeghem?
'''Johannes Ockeghem''' (born Saint-Ghislain, near [[Mons]], [[Belgium]] about 1410; died [[Tours]], [[France]], 6 February 1497), was the most famous [[composer]] of the [[Franco-Flemish School]] (from around the area which is now [[Belgium]]) in the last half of the [[15th century]], and is often thought of as the most important composer between [[Guillaume Dufay|Dufay]] and [[Josquin des Prez]]. He was an excellent choirmaster and teacher. He spent most of his life working for the [[France|French]] royal court. == Life == The name Ockeghem is found with many different spellings in old documents. He was almost certainly born in the town of Saint-Ghislain. His native language was probably [[French language|French]]. Like many composers in this period, he started to learn about music by singing in a [[church]] [[choir]], quite possibly in Saint-Ghislain and then in Mons. His first important job was working for Charles I, Duke of Bourbon in [[Moulins]], (France). Then in 1451 he went to work for King [[Charles VII of France]]. By this time he was well known as a singer and composer. He worked for the royal court for more than 50 years and was rewarded with promotions and honours. Charles VII gave him important jobs. After Charles VII’s death Louis XI became king. He reigned for a long time and Ockeghem was in favour with the king. He often travelled with the king, visiting places such as [[Cambrai]] and even as far as [[Spain]]. He met famous people including the composers [[Dufay]] and [[Binchois]]. He also had other jobs in [[Paris]]. Louis XI died in 1483. We do not know much about where Ockeghem went after that, but he probably died in [[Tours]] because that is where he left his [[Will (law)|will]]. == Music and influence == Ockeghem was not a composer who wrote lots of music, but it is hard to tell as some of it might have got lost. There are 14 [[mass (music)|masses]] that survive and other [[vocal]] works. His ''Missa pro Defunctis'' is the earliest surviving [[polyphonic]] [[Requiem]]. Ockeghem bas