Composer. The first important British Composer and the first to achieve international reputation. Very little is known of his life. He was in the service of the Duke of Bedford when the latter was Henry V's regent in France (1422-35), and he may even have witnessed the burning of Joan of Arc, ordered by Bedford in 1431. His music, while based on chant, was more euphonious than that of his contemporaries, and had a strong influence on French composers Dufay and Binchois. Dunstable's best known works are the motet "Veni Creator Spiritus", the processional anthem "Quam pulchra es", and the song "O Rosa Bella". He was buried in the Church of St. Stephen Walbrook in London, which was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666. The church was rebuilt on the same site by Sir Christopher Wren in 1687.
Composer. The first important British Composer and the first to achieve international reputation. Very little is known of his life. He was in the service of the Duke of Bedford when the latter was Henry V's regent in France (1422-35), and he may even have witnessed the burning of Joan of Arc, ordered by Bedford in 1431. His music, while based on chant, was more euphonious than that of his contemporaries, and had a strong influence on French composers Dufay and Binchois. Dunstable's best known works are the motet "Veni Creator Spiritus", the processional anthem "Quam pulchra es", and the song "O Rosa Bella". He was buried in the Church of St. Stephen Walbrook in London, which was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666. The church was rebuilt on the same site by Sir Christopher Wren in 1687.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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