The Prosopography of Renaissance Singers (PCR, after its original French title: Prosopographie des chantres de la Renaissance) is a database of biographies of professional singers employed in European princely chapels and major churches from c. 1350 to c. 1600. To this day, the database collects about 4500 entries which offer a wide variety of career profiles and information, from the variant names of the singers to their dates and places of activities, together with their full detailed biographies. Though the PCR inevitably includes most composers of the late middle ages and early modern period, its priority is to feed the biographies of their fellow colleagues who were employed in the same establishments but, not having been identified as authors of musical works, have received much less attention from musicologists and historians. The PCR is an ongoing project. Draft biographies stored in the back office are periodically validated for online publication and it is regularly enriched with new entries.

Originating as en enlargment of the prosopographical appendices of David Fiala's doctoral dissertation on the musicians of the court of Burgundy in the later 15th century (2002), the project began in 2007 with a research campaign funded by the French National Agency of Research (ANR), in collaboration with the University of Rouen, the Centre d’études supérieures de la Renaissance (CESR) of the University of Tours, the CNRS and Le STUDIUM agency. The database primarily collects the results of biographical research concerning singers active in institutions of France, the Low Countries and Italy, but also considers the activities of singers in Spain, Germany and other European countries. There are different kinds of entries in the database. The user will find entries in progress, which propose just a few pieces of information, as well as complete entries, available in French and English. The user can query these by full-text search. Such queries are more successful in French than in English, as a large number of biographies are in French.

The PCR data model rests on the principle of biographies structured as series of events. An event is a nexus of data situated in time and connecting an individual to various elements such as : event type, role, place, institution. The production of events being the most time-consuming task of the PCR, they are only progressively attached to the biographies. The quality and precision of the results of advanced searches are directly depending on the availibity of corresponding events.

Beside its bibliography of several hundreds of references, the PCR maintains its own reference list of archival repositories accross Europe, while references to the documentation kept in libraries follow RISM sigla. It also maintains generic tools such as a multilingual thesaurus of given names (and their diminutives) which facilitates identifications accross different contexts, or tables of music patrons and musical establishments.

Musicologists interested in contributing are invited to contact the responsible of the project, David Fiala.

Files

Sample of 65 PCR bilingual biographies in French and English, December 2008

Contributors

Avocat Guillaume

Belliot Hyacinthe

Bouckaert Bruno

Callewier Hendrik

Cavicchi Camilla

Cingolani Stefano Maria

Dumitrescu Theodor

Fiala David

Gurrieri Marco

McDonald Grantley

Nicolas Patrice

Nys Ludovic

Pilleboue Frédérique

Planchart Alejandro

Sherr Richard

Szpirglas Jacques

Vendrix Philippe


Adam [Adam —] fl. circa 1430

Roles: Composer

Adam Hocquet fl. 1414-1446†

Roles: Member of a church (musician)

Roles: Member of a court chapel (lower ranked officer)

Adrian dit Frelorion [Adrian —] fl. 1504/1505

Roles: Member of a church (musician)

Adrian Willaert fl. 1515-1562†

Roles: Choirmaster ; Composer ; Instrumentalist ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Singer ; Teacher

Adrien Basin fl. 1456-1498†

Roles: Cleric ; Composer ; Member of a confraternity ; Member of a princely/private household ; Singer

Roles: Copyist/Scribe

Albaen Brifout fl. 1515/1517

Roles: Priest ; Singer

Alexandre Huppillon fl. 1486/1487

Roles: Master of choirboys

Amable Amy fl. 1508

Roles: Choirboy ; Singer

Andreas de Silva fl. 1513-1522

Roles: Composer ; Instrumentalist ; Member of a princely/private household ; Singer

Roles: Dedicator

Antoine Barré fl. 1551-1572

Roles: Bookseller ; Composer ; Instrumentalist ; Music printer ; Singer

Antoine de Févin circa 1470-1511/1512

Roles: Composer ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Singer

Antoine de Rancon fl. 1558-1592†

Roles: Bassus ; Member of a church (musician) ; Priest ; Singer

Antonius Hucher fl. 1538/1550

Roles: Music printer ; Printer/Publisher

Balthasar Arthopius fl. 1530-1534†

Roles: Choirmaster ; Composer ; Organist

Bertrand Du Pré fl. 1475-1481†

Roles: Master of choirboys

Buval fl. circa 1610

Roles: Copyist/Scribe ; Music copyist

Roles: Composer

Charles d'Argentil fl. 1525-1557†

Roles: Bassus ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Monastic Order ; Priest ; Singer

Roles: Music printer

Christophe Charlet fl. 1474-1505†

Roles: Member of a church (musician)

Claudin de Sermisy fl. 1508-1562†

Roles: Choirmaster ; Cleric ; Composer ; Master of choirboys ; Member of a church (higher ecclesiastic, canon) ; Member of a church (lower ranked officer) ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Singer

Clément Petit fl. 1378-1389†

Roles: Member of a court chapel (higher ecclesiastic)

Colinet de Lannoy fl. 1477-before 1497†

Roles: Member of a church (musician) ; Member of a court chapel (musician)

Roles: Composer

Ebran fl. 1543/1559

Roles: Composer

Elimot fl. 1515/1530

Roles: Composer

Roles: Choirmaster ; Cleric ; Composer ; Instrumentalist ; Member of a church (higher ecclesiastic, canon) ; Member of a church (lower ranked officer) ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Singer

Foliot fl. 1490/1515

Roles: Composer

Forestier fl. 1538/1541

Roles: Composer

Roles: Dedicatee/Owner

François Dulot fl. 1514-1531

Roles: Composer ; Master of choirboys

Gerard Bruyne fl. 1342-1370

Roles: Choirmaster ; First Chaplain ; Member of a church (higher ecclesiastic, canon) ; Member of a court chapel (musician)

Roles: Member of a church (higher ecclesiastic, canon) ; Priest ; Singer

Gilles Mureau fl. 1462-1512†

Roles: Composer ; Master of choirboys ; Member of a church (higher ecclesiastic, canon) ; Organist ; Singer

Roles: Master of choirboys ; Member of a church (musician)

Guillaume Dore fl. 1463-1474†

Roles: Member of a church (higher ecclesiastic, canon) ; Member of a court chapel (musician)

Guillaume Du Fay circa 1397-1474

Roles: Choirboy ; Choirmaster ; Cleric ; Composer ; Illegitimate birth ; Member of a church (higher ecclesiastic, canon) ; Member of a church (lower ranked officer) ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Member of a princely/private household ; Priest

Guillaume Faugues fl. 1462-1471

Roles: Composer ; Master of choirboys ; Member of a church (higher ecclesiastic, canon) ; Member of a church (lower ranked officer)

Roles: Involved in a criminal case ; Member of a church (musician)

Roles: Lyricist-Poet ; Printer/Publisher ; Writer/Scientist

Roles: Choirboy ; Cleric ; Composer ; Illegitimate birth ; Member of a church (higher ecclesiastic, canon) ; Member of a church (lower ranked officer) ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Singer

Guillaume Le Rouge fl. 1449-1465

Roles: Composer ; Master of choirboys ; Member of a court chapel (musician)

Roles: Master of choirboys ; Member of a church (musician)

Roles: Organist

Guillaume Richafort fl. 1507-1541†

Roles: Member of a church (lower ranked officer) ; Priest

Henricus de Campis fl. 1534/1549

Roles: Bookseller ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Music printer ; Printer/Publisher

Hotin Compere fl. 1472-circa 1474†

Roles: Choirboy

Jacques de Fécamp fl. 1384-1414†

Roles: Member of a church (higher ecclesiastic, canon) ; Member of a court chapel (musician)

Roles: Member of a court chapel (musician)

Jan die Gruyter fl. 1508/1525

Roles: Organist

Jan Gruter fl. 1491-1509†

Roles: Illegitimate birth ; Member of a church (higher ecclesiastic, canon) ; Member of a church (musician) ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Singer ; Tenor

Jean Barbé fl. 1486-1507†

Roles: Member of a church (higher ecclesiastic, canon) ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Priest ; Singer

Jean Beaugendre circa 1400-fl. 1422

Roles: Choirboy ; Member of a church (musician) ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Singer

Roles: Member of a court chapel (musician)

Roles: Lyricist-Poet ; Member of a church (lower ranked officer) ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Member of a princely/private household

Jean Brunet fl. 1437/1448

Roles: Member of a church (higher ecclesiastic, canon)

Jean Cousin fl. 1523/1524

Roles: Master of choirboys ; Member of a church (musician)

Jean Daule fl. 1460/1467

Roles: Member of a princely/private household ; Monastic Order

Jean de Decker fl. 1470/1476

Roles: Member of a court chapel (lower ranked officer)

Jean de La Haye fl. 1436-1444

Roles: Composer ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Member of a princely/private household

Jean Doublet fl. 1532/1540

Roles: Composer ; Organist

Jean Du Moulin fl. 1518-1563†

Roles: Choirboy ; Composer ; Dedicatee/Owner ; Master of choirboys ; Member of a church (higher ecclesiastic, canon) ; Member of a church (musician)

Jean Forest fl. 1473

Roles: Member of a princely/private household ; Priest

Jean Fortry fl. 1455-1468†

Roles: Master of choirboys ; Member of a church (musician) ; Member of a court chapel (musician)

Jean Gontier fl. circa 1417

Roles: Organist

Jean Guérin [Bourges] fl. 1529-1532†

Roles: Dedicatee/Owner ; Member of a church (musician)

Roles: Member of a church (musician)

Jean Lebuef fl. 1362

Roles: Composer ; Monastic Order

Jean Molinet fl. 1509-1523

Roles: Composer ; Member of a church (musician) ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Singer

Jean Picard fl. 1369

Roles: Master of choirboys ; Member of a church (musician) ; Priest

Jean Richafort fl. 1504-circa 1550†

Roles: Choirmaster ; Composer ; Master of choirboys ; Member of a church (lower ranked officer) ; Member of a church (musician)

Jean Servin 1529-1609

Roles: Composer ; Dedicator

Jean Tordoir fl. 1420/1424

Roles: Member of a court chapel (musician)

Jean Vincenet fl. 1422-1447†

Roles: Member of a church (higher ecclesiastic, canon) ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Priest

Joachim Richafort fl. 1532-1546

Roles: Member of a church (lower ranked officer) ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Priest

Roles: Member of a church (musician) ; Tenor

Johannes de Buglhat fl. 1528/1555

Roles: Bookseller ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Music printer ; Printer/Publisher

Johannes Reson fl. 1425/1435

Roles: Composer ; Member of a church (musician)

Roles: Composer ; Monastic Order ; Music copyist

Léonard Barre fl. 1537-after 1555

Roles: Choirmaster ; Composer ; Member of a court chapel (musician)

Roles: Choirboy ; Singer

Lucas de Bruxelles fl. 1494/1496

Roles: Member of a church (musician)

Macé Potin fl. 1491-1497

Roles: Involved in a criminal case ; Member of a church (musician) ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Singer ; Tenor

Margaret of Valois-Angoulême [Marguerite de Valois-Angoulême] 1492-1549

Roles: Dedicatee/Owner ; Lyricist-Poet

Mathieu Sohier fl. 1533-1548

Roles: Choirmaster ; Composer ; Member of a church (higher ecclesiastic, canon) ; Priest

Mathurin Forestier fl. 1500/1520

Roles: Composer

Messire Lucas [Lucas —] fl. 1501-1506†

Roles: Member of a confraternity ; Member of a court chapel (musician)

Michel Touppe fl. 1492-1511†

Roles: Cleric ; Member of a court chapel (musician)

Michel Tournatoris fl. 1598-1641†

Roles: Instrumentalist ; Master of choirboys ; Member of a church (musician) ; Music copyist ; Organist ; Priest

Nicolas de Marle fl. 1544-circa 1568

Roles: Choirmaster ; Composer ; Master of choirboys

Nicole Grenon 1382-1456

Roles: Choirmaster ; Cleric ; Master of choirboys ; Member of a church (higher ecclesiastic, canon) ; Member of a church (lower ranked officer) ; Priest ; Singer

Olivier Le Crec fl. 1555-1582†

Roles: Dedicatee/Owner ; Member of a church (higher ecclesiastic, canon)

Pasquet Busquet fl. 1469-1491†

Roles: Composer ; Master of choirboys ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Member of a princely/private household

Roles: Member of a church (musician) ; Organist

Philippet de Pres fl. circa 1475

Roles: Composer

Philippon Des Hayes fl. 1454/1479

Roles: Member of a court chapel (musician)

Piero Delapiazza fl. 1482/1485

Roles: Member of a church (musician) ; Tenor

Pierre Attaingnant circa 1494-1551/1553

Roles: Employer/Patron ; Music printer

Pierre Basiron fl. 1458-1529†

Roles: Choirboy ; Member of a church (higher ecclesiastic, canon)

Roles: Composer

Pierre de Calonne fl. 1450-1503†

Roles: Member of a church (higher ecclesiastic, canon) ; Member of a church (musician) ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Tenor

Roles: Master of choirboys ; Member of a church (musician) ; Priest

Pierre Du Wez (Cambrai) fl. 1443-1483†

Roles: Member of a church (lower ranked officer) ; Member of a church (musician) ; Priest ; Tenor

Pierre Euvrart fl. 1437-1472†

Roles: Master of choirboys

Pierre Gontier fl. circa 1417

Roles: Organist

Roles: Member of a church (higher ecclesiastic, canon) ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Singer

Roles: Master of choirboys ; Member of a church (musician)

Roles: Member of a church (musician) ; Tenor

Pietrequin [Dijon] [Pietrequin —] fl. 1520/1521

Roles: Member of a church (musician) ; Singer

Quentin Caveron fl. 1414/1415

Roles: Master of choirboys ; Member of a church (higher ecclesiastic, canon) ; Member of a court chapel (musician)

Robert Gadiffer fl. 1457-circa 1470

Roles: Member of a church (musician) ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Tenor

Robert Morton fl. 1457-1483†

Roles: Cleric ; Composer ; Member of a church (higher ecclesiastic, canon) ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Priest

Roles: Bassus ; Member of a church (higher ecclesiastic, canon) ; Member of a church (musician) ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Music copyist ; Priest ; Singer ; Tenor

Simon Mellet fl. 1431-1481†

Roles: Member of a church (higher ecclesiastic, canon) ; Member of a church (lower ranked officer) ; Member of a church (musician) ; Member of a princely/private household ; Music copyist

Roles: Member of a church (higher ecclesiastic, canon) ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Member of a princely/private household ; Noble birth

Touteau fl. 1556/1562

Roles: Composer

Valentin Sohier fl. 1539/1556

Roles: Composer

Vincent Breion fl. 1408-1463†

Roles: Illegitimate birth ; Master of choirboys ; Member of a church (lower ranked officer) ; Member of a church (musician)

Roles: Composer ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Organist ; Singer

Waghe Feustrier fl. 1457-1475†

Roles: Member of a church (lower ranked officer) ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Member of a princely/private household ; Music copyist ; Priest

Roles: Composer ; Member of a court chapel (musician) ; Singer

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Fiala David, Prosopography of Renaissance Singers (2007-...), in RicercarDataLab [http://preprod-ricercar.cesr.univ-tours.fr/projects/5/] (accessed 30 May 2025).

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