When did the Burgundian School begin and end?
The history of Burgundian music began with the organization of the chapel in 1384. The period ended around 1477 when Charles the Bold died at the Battle of Nancy.
Questions about Burgundian School
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who were the most famous composers associated with the Burgundian School?
Guillaume Dufay stands as the most famous composer associated with this school, likely the most famous composer in all of 15th-century Europe. Gilles Binchois worked at the Burgundian court between approximately 1430 and 1460, and Antoine Busnois became the most prominent musician after Dufay died in 1474.
Where was musical activity concentrated during the Burgundian epoch?
Most musical activity did not occur in modern-day Burgundy with its capital Dijon. Instead, music-making flourished in Brussels, Bruges, Lille, and Arras.
What secular forms defined the output of the Burgundian School?
The four formes fixes were rondeau, ballade, virelai, and bergerette, all generically known as chansons. The rondeau was by far the most popular form, with more surviving examples than any other type.
Which manuscripts preserve music from the Burgundian School today?
Approximately 65 manuscript sources contain music by Burgundian composers today. Notable collections include the Canonici Manuscript at the Bodleian Library in Oxford, the Laborde Chansonnier at the Library of Congress in Washington DC, and the Mellon Chansonnier at Yale University's Beinecke Library.