A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Auxcousteaux, Arthur d'

AUXCOUSTEAUX, Arthur d', born in Picardy at Beauvais (Magnin) or St. Quentin (Gomart). His family coat of arms contains a pun on his name; it is 'Azur à trois cousteaux, d'argent garnis d'or.' He was a singer in the church of Noyon, of which fact there is a record in the library of Amiens. Then he became 'Maistre de la Sainte Chapelle' at Paris, and, as appears from the preface to a psalter of Godeau's published by Pierre le petit, 'haut contre' in the chapel of Louis XIII. He died in 1656, the year of publication of the psalter just mentioned. He left many masses and chansons, all printed by Ballard of Paris. His style is remarkably in advance of his contemporaries, and Fétis believes him to have studied the Italian masters.

[ F. G. ]