John Dunstable (jan 1, 1390 – jan 1, 1453)
Description:
was an English composer of polyphonic music of the late medieval era and early Renaissance periods. He influenced continental composers.Dunstable and the “Contenance Angloise”
1. Dunstable’s arrival in Paris caused the major composers to follow his style,
known as la contenance angloise.
a. Major-mode tonality
b. Triadic harmony
c. Smooth handling of dissonance
2. Dunstable wrote in the old styles of the fourteenth century, including
isorhythmic motets.
3. The smooth sound associated with Dunstable can be heard in Quam pulchra es.
4. Only nine dissonant notes appear in this piece.
Added to timeline:
Date:
jan 1, 1390
jan 1, 1453
~ 63 years