GOUDIMEL, CLAUDE. – Musician, born in Besançon around 1508, died in Lyon on 27 August 1572, killed in the massacre that followed the night of St Bartholomew.
A pupil of Despres, he was one of the foremost composers of his time. Little is known of his life, which unfolded between Paris, Metz, Besançon, and Lyon. He composed Magnificats, psalms, and motets (Paris 1553), four Masses (ibid. 1558), as well as many chansons printed in Paris from 1557 to 1566.
His melody is gentle and inspired, and his contrapuntal style is always correct, so close to that of Palestrina. Many manuscripts by G. are in Roman libraries, which led to the supposition that he had been present in Rome; but recent studies have ruled this out. It is certain, however, that he exerted a great influence on the Roman school.