The Motets of Pierre Certon

Abstract

Certon was acquainted with many musicians of his day including Claudin de Sermisy (who was "sous-maitre" of the Sainte-Chapelle), Guillaume Morlaye, Thomas Champion and Pierre Attaingnant, as well as Sandrin and Janequin. He was especially close to Sermisy---he composed a "deploration" on Sermisy's death in 1562, similar to Josquin's "deploration" for Ockeghem in 1497. Certon's musical contacts are all the more interesting because he spent his whole life in Paris, the central musical location in France. He was therefore in close proximity to the royal court where the best musicians would have been employed. Certon's associations with these musicians and the musical life of Paris almost certainly influenced the interest and significance of his musical output.