FRENCHMAN Josquin des Prez — more commonly known as Josquin and regarded as one of the most important of the early Renaissance composers — was a creator of both religious and secular choral works.

Believed to have been born c1450-1455 in what is now Belgium, he spent most of his working life creating a succession of highly regarded motets and masses in Italy.

He worked at the Sistine Chapel at around the same time Michelangelo was creating his Last Judgement ceiling mural before moving on to take charge of music at court in Ferrara. He spent his last days in Conde, north-eastern France, where he died in 1521.