composer

Richafort, Jean

Date of birth: c.1480
Date of death: 1547

Jean Richafort (c.1480-1547) was a Flemish composer of the Renaissance too. Probably born in Hainault (Henegouwen) in the French-speaking part of the Low Countries, near St. Omer. In 1507 he became Maître de Chapelle at St. Rombout’s Cathedral in Mechelen. His names occurs in many records of the French royal court. His presence is also mentioned in Rome and Bologna. Pope Leo X rewarded him many times for his music. Until he died in 1547 he was chapel master in St. Gilles’ in Bruges. His masterpiece is called the Requiem in memoriam Josquin Desprez (for 6. vv.) in which he uses a sentence from the chanson ‘Faulte d’argent’ (a chanson about women’s everlasting need for money): C’est douleur non pareille, as a cantus firmus for two of the six voices.
Cees Wagemakers, 2018