Willaert, Adrian (c. 1490–1562)

Flemish composer. One of the most prolific and influential musicians of the mid-16th century, he was one of the earliest composers of madrigals, though his most important works are his motets. He also had a great influence on church music, broadening its character and achieving effect by a wide use of chromatic scales.

Willaert was trained in law but studied music with Jean Mouton in Paris. In 1515 he became a singer in the household of Cardinal Ippolito d'Este, his extensive travels with the cardinal included visits to Rome, Ferrara, and Esztergom, and a two-year stay in Hungary. On the cardinal's death in 1520 Willaert transferred to the service of Duke Alfonso I d'Este. In 1527 he became maestro di cappella at St Mark's, Venice, where his pupils included Cipriano de Rore, Nicola Vicentino, Andrea Gabrieli, Gioseffe Zarlino, and Costanzo Porta. He revisited Flanders in 1542 and 1556–57.

Willaert's works include a large quantity of church music, as well as many madrigals, chansons, villanelles, and some instrumental pieces. Salmi spezzati (1550) contains music for double choirs and set a tradition for polychoral music in St Mark's. His most important work is the collection of motets and madrigals, Musica nova, published in 1559, though probably written much earlier.

Works Masses, hymns, psalms, motets, madrigals, chansons, and instrumental ensemble pieces.