Jachet

The earliest of the numerous musicians of the Sixteenth Century, who bear this name, seems to have been achet da Mantua or Gianchetto di Mantova. From 1527 to 1558 he was a singer, and then chapelmaster at the Cathedral of San Pietro in Mantua. He seems to have been a prolific composer, for his name appeared continually in various collections of motets, masses, and magnificats, even as early as 1532, in one of the books of motets published by Jacques Moderne at Lyons. He is also frequently mentioned by contemporary writers, and is thought to have died about 1559. Jaches, Giaches, or Jacob de Wert who is often identified with Jachet da Mantua, was probably born in the Netherlands about 1536. He is supposed to have gone to Italy when young, where, after being in the service of the Marchesa della Padulla and the Count Alfonso of Novellara, he entered the service of the Duke of Mantua in 1566, and was later organist of St. Barbara's Church at Mantua, a position which he filled until his death, in 1596. Meantime he appears to have been unofficially connected with the Court of the Duke at Novellara. He is the author of eleven volumes of madrigals for five voices, published at Venice from about 1558 to 1595, and others for four, five and six voices; a number of motets; and the canzonette, Villanelle, dedicated to Leonora, the Duchess of Mantua. Some of his works were published as late as 1633. He has been frequently confused with Jaches Gallico or Jacomo Brumel, more commonly called Jaches de Ferrara. The latter is spoken of (probably after his death) by several writers as a celebrated organist in the service of the Duke of Ferrara, beginning about 1508; and from 1543 to 1559 his name constantly appeared in the archives of Modena, where he must have spent most of his time.