Pierre Clereau

Full biography Pierre Clereau

Pierre Clereau was a French composer, choirmaster, and possibly an organist of the Renaissance period, active in several towns in France during the mid-sixteenth century. He was known for his works on sacred music and chansons, a type of secular song popular in the Renaissance era in France. Clereau's date of birth is unknown, but he died before 11 January 1570.

Clereau's work on chansons was highly regarded during his time , and he was considered as one of the leading composers of the genre. Some of his notable compositions include "La Lune est coustumiere" and "Je suis jaloux". He was also known for his works on sacred music , which include several parody masses such as "Missa De Beata Virgine" and "Missa Pro Defunctis".

Clereau's compositions were highly influenced by the works of other contemporary composers such as Claude Goudimel, Clement Janequin, and Pierre Certon. His style was characterized by a mix of modal and tonal writing, which was common in the music of his time.

In modern times, Clereau's works have been performed and recorded by various ensembles, including The Tallis Scholars, Capella Cordina, and Ensemble Clement Janequin. Despite being relatively unknown outside of his time, Clereau's works have made a significant impact on the development of music during the Renaissance period in France.