OCKEGHEM, JOHANNES

(ca. 1421-1497)

Flemish composer, born in the county of Hainaut. Nothing is known of his musical edu-cation, though he may have been a pupil ofGilles de Binchois, in which case he would have had an early connection with the dukes ofBurgundy. He was a singer in the cathedral choir at Antwerp in 1443, but by the mid -1440s he had moved to France, first at the court of the duke of Bourbon and from 1452 in the royal chapel. He re-mained in royal service through the reigns of kings Charles VII, Louis XI, and Charles VIII. In addition to being a famous composer of masses, motets, and chansons, he taught and influenced the devel-opment of important composers of the next generation, men such asJacob Obrecht,Heinrich Isaak, andJosquin des Prez. His works include the canonAlma Redemptoris Mater. Ockeghem was famous for his skill in counterpoint.