Alexander Agricola

Alexander Agricola was a well-traveled composer throughout France, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands. Records concerning his life and accomplishments are not completely trustworthy and a number of different referential names are associated with him (Allesandro Alemanno, Alexander de Alemanna, and Allessandro d'Allemagna). It is known, however, that Agricola composed a number of works including masses, mass movements, motets, hymns, lamentations, magnificat settings, motet-chansons, secular vocal pieces, and instrumental works. He was highly praised as a singer and composer and probably worked under the aegis of the Duke of Milan. He was recommended to Lorenzo de' Medici, and later Piero de' Medici requested his return from Naples and the Aragonese court in 1492. Prior to this it is definitely known that Agricola spent time in the French royal chapel, but the positions he held remain a mystery. By 1500 he was in service to Philip the Handsome, Duke of Burgundy and King of Castile, where he composed Transit Anna Timor around 1503-1505. Reports indicate that he died in 1506, the same year as Philip. Agricola's legacy is rich in quantity and quality. His rhythms were full, with melodic lines composed in the melismatic style, counterpunctual, with motifs that can be described as sequential, repetitious, and imitative. Unlike others who tasted the influence of Italy, Agricola's music remained Gothic. ~ Keith Johnson