A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Busnois

BUSNOIS, a Belgian musician in the latter part of the 15th century, who with Ockenheim and a few others represent the Netherland school immediately preceding Josquin des Prés. The date and place of his birth are unknown, but he was without doubt educated and passed the greater part of his life in Belgium. In 1476 he was appointed one of the chapel singers of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, and continued in that position till the death of that prince (Jan. 5, 1477), when he retired to a country life till his death about 1480.

Kiesewetter, in his 'Essay on the Music of the Netherlands,' has printed three four-part chansons from the 'Canti Cento Cinquanta' (Petrucci, Venice, 1503) which show a decided progress on the music of Dufay's period (1380–1450). Some masses of Busnois' are preserved in the library of the pontifical chapel, and other compositions, chiefly for the church, in a MS. in the royal library at Brussels. Many of his chansons are in a MS. brought to light of late years in the library at Dijon.

[ J. R. S. B. ]