Marbrianus de Orto

1460-1529

Marbrianus was born and lived most of his life in Belgium.

He lived and composed when the Franco-Flemish school of religious composition was at its height. Polychromatic music reached new pinnacles in this era. The use of several voices, often unaccompanied creates a soulful and contemplative sound.

He is known to have travelled to Rome and sung in the choir of the Sistine Chapel. At least one of his pieces was composed for the Chapel choir.

Sistine Choir performing in from of Michaelangel’s “Doom” painting

He was a prolific composer of religious music and a number of his compositions have survived. Here we have his lamentations of the Prophet Jeremiah: