Jean Mouton

1459-1522

Unlike many of his time, Jean Mouton’s origins are complicated by the fact his name is not connected to a place. John the sheep is so much more enigmatic! Debate as to where he was from necessarily follows but the most likely candidate seems to be the old hill top city of Boulogne sur Mer.

Little is known if his early life, his parents or indeed his date of birth. It is believed he was born around 1455-1460.

His fragmentary biography supports the connection to Northern France if not necessarily Boulogne, placing him initially in St Omer then the Cathedral at Amiens, in each case with a choral post. He was ordained as a priest whilst at Amiens and possibly came to know Josquin des Prez

French geography and titles in this era can get confusing. Take for instance his next move, to Grenobles in the Alps, to a position in the gift of Anne of Brittany (most definitely not in the Alps).

Even more confusingly, he was hardly ever in Grenobles. Mouton had by 1509 become an official composer to the French Court. Nevertheless he seems to have held the Grenobles post, and perhaps more importantly the pay that went with it, while remaining largely in Paris.

He returned to Picardy towards the end of his life, becoming a canon at the church of St Quentin. He died in 1522.

Mouton was a prolific composer of choral works, he composed a motet for the election of Leo X as pope in 1513 and he composed a second in honour of the same pope two years later. He was recognised as one of the major composers of polyphony in his time and if his style was conservative compared to some, it nevertheless produced some beautiful and melodic music. On occasion it soars lifting the spirit with it. At its best it is masterful.

Writing in the years immediately after his death Heinrich Glarean said of Mouton "his melody flows in a supple thread."