Agricola, Alexander (1446–1506)

Flemish composer. He is one of the most florid continental composers of the late 15th century, writing in a contrapuntal and decorative style. He served at the court of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, Duke of Milan, during the early 1470s, as well as with Lorenzo di Medici (the Magnificent) in Florence.

After a brief period at Mantua he returned to the Low Countries, and his name appears in the accounts of Cambrai Cathedral for 1475–76. After a second visit to Italy, in 1500 he entered the service of Philip the Handsome, Duke of Burgundy, whom he accompanied on journeys to Paris and Spain. During his second visit to Spain, Philip died of fever and Agricola apparently died at the same time. Agricola's epitaph (printed by Georg Rhaw in 1538) states that he died at the age of 60, the date of death being established by his disappearance from Philip's court rolls.

Works Church music eight Masses, two Credos, twenty-five motets.

Secular music 93 secular pieces.