Pierre Vermont
Encyclopedia
Pierre Vermont (c.1495 – before February 22, 1533) was a French composer of the Renaissance, associated with the Sainte-Chapelle
. Twelve of his works have survived, including seven motet
s and five chanson
s.
A birthdate for Pierre is estimated based on the record of his being a choirboy in Sainte-Chapelle
at the beginning of 1510 as one of a group of only six who sang treble for royalty, and his subsequent departure to complete his education at the end of the next year, probably when his voice broke. In 1512 he assisted in the performance of the daily liturgy at Sainte-Chapelle as a cleric, and in the early 1520s he became the singing master there. Upon the resignation of a chaplain at Saint Quiriace in Provins
, Louise of Savoy
gave him the chantry
there. At this time he was singing bass, and seems to have retained his position as music master at Sainte-Chapelle until late 1527, and continued singing in the royal choir until his death, which occurred sometime before February 22, 1533.
. They are for four or five voices, and use the principle of pervading imitation throughout, with two using a cantus firmus
with a separate text, an archaic technique by the early 16th century. They lack the contrasts of texture – switches from polyphonic
to homophonic
writing, and dense to sparse vocal groupings – which can be found in the music of his contemporaries. Vermont's chansons, all for four voices, also favor imitative textures.
François Rabelais
mentions Vermont in the prologue to Book IV of Gargantua and Pantagruel
, as one of a group of the most famous singers of the age, performing a bawdy song for Priapus
.
Sainte-Chapelle
La Sainte-Chapelle is the only surviving building of the Capetian royal palace on the Île de la Cité in the heart of Paris, France. It was commissioned by King Louis IX of France to house his collection of Passion Relics, including the Crown of Thorns - one of the most important relics in medieval...
. Twelve of his works have survived, including seven motet
Motet
In classical music, motet is a word that is applied to a number of highly varied choral musical compositions.-Etymology:The name comes either from the Latin movere, or a Latinized version of Old French mot, "word" or "verbal utterance." The Medieval Latin for "motet" is motectum, and the Italian...
s and five chanson
Chanson
A chanson is in general any lyric-driven French song, usually polyphonic and secular. A singer specialising in chansons is known as a "chanteur" or "chanteuse" ; a collection of chansons, especially from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, is also known as a chansonnier.-Chanson de geste:The...
s.
Biography
There were two closely connected composers named Vermont, of whom Pierre was possibly the elder, and a Pernot Vermont (c.1495–1558) possibly younger, but not by much. Musicologists have not been able to establish a family relationship, although it seems likely. That Pierre was the elder of the two, even though their conjectured birthdates are similar, is inferred from his appellation (l’aîné, primus, or Vermond seniorem). All of the music assigned simply to 'Vermont' in the sources has been attributed to Pierre rather than Pernot.A birthdate for Pierre is estimated based on the record of his being a choirboy in Sainte-Chapelle
Sainte-Chapelle
La Sainte-Chapelle is the only surviving building of the Capetian royal palace on the Île de la Cité in the heart of Paris, France. It was commissioned by King Louis IX of France to house his collection of Passion Relics, including the Crown of Thorns - one of the most important relics in medieval...
at the beginning of 1510 as one of a group of only six who sang treble for royalty, and his subsequent departure to complete his education at the end of the next year, probably when his voice broke. In 1512 he assisted in the performance of the daily liturgy at Sainte-Chapelle as a cleric, and in the early 1520s he became the singing master there. Upon the resignation of a chaplain at Saint Quiriace in Provins
Provins
Provins is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.Provins, a town of medieval fairs, became a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site in 2001.-Administration:...
, Louise of Savoy
Louise of Savoy
Louise of Savoy was a French noble, Duchess regnant of Auvergne and Bourbon, Duchess of Nemours, the mother of King Francis I of France...
gave him the chantry
Chantry
Chantry is the English term for a fund established to pay for a priest to celebrate sung Masses for a specified purpose, generally for the soul of the deceased donor. Chantries were endowed with lands given by donors, the income from which maintained the chantry priest...
there. At this time he was singing bass, and seems to have retained his position as music master at Sainte-Chapelle until late 1527, and continued singing in the royal choir until his death, which occurred sometime before February 22, 1533.
Music
Seven of his motets have survived, as well as one which has now been attributed to Jacquet of MantuaJacquet of Mantua
Jacquet of Mantua was a French composer of the Renaissance, who spent almost his entire life in Italy...
. They are for four or five voices, and use the principle of pervading imitation throughout, with two using a cantus firmus
Cantus firmus
In music, a cantus firmus is a pre-existing melody forming the basis of a polyphonic composition.The plural of this Latin term is , though the corrupt form canti firmi is also attested...
with a separate text, an archaic technique by the early 16th century. They lack the contrasts of texture – switches from polyphonic
Polyphony
In music, polyphony is a texture consisting of two or more independent melodic voices, as opposed to music with just one voice or music with one dominant melodic voice accompanied by chords ....
to homophonic
Homophony
In music, homophony is a texture in which two or more parts move together in harmony, the relationship between them creating chords. This is distinct from polyphony, in which parts move with rhythmic independence, and monophony, in which all parts move in parallel rhythm and pitch. A homophonic...
writing, and dense to sparse vocal groupings – which can be found in the music of his contemporaries. Vermont's chansons, all for four voices, also favor imitative textures.
François Rabelais
François Rabelais
François Rabelais was a major French Renaissance writer, doctor, Renaissance humanist, monk and Greek scholar. He has historically been regarded as a writer of fantasy, satire, the grotesque, bawdy jokes and songs...
mentions Vermont in the prologue to Book IV of Gargantua and Pantagruel
Gargantua and Pantagruel
The Life of Gargantua and of Pantagruel is a connected series of five novels written in the 16th century by François Rabelais. It is the story of two giants, a father and his son and their adventures, written in an amusing, extravagant, satirical vein...
, as one of a group of the most famous singers of the age, performing a bawdy song for Priapus
Priapus
In Greek mythology, Priapus or Priapos , was a minor rustic fertility god, protector of livestock, fruit plants, gardens and male genitalia. Priapus is marked by his absurdly oversized, permanent erection, which gave rise to the medical term priapism...
.