Hayne Van Ghizeghem

Biography

Life

Hayne van Ghizeghem (°1445 likely in Gijzegem (Aalst)- c. 1472/1497) was a Franco-Flemish composer from the Burgundian school, poet, lutist and singer during the renaissance. Van Ghizeghem is mostly known as a composer of chansons. In 1460 Van Ghizeghem worked for the Burgundian court as a singer and chamberlain. He was not a part of the court chapel however. By the end of 1460, Van Ghizeghem was a well known composer and poet despite the fact that his portfolio likely consisted only of chansons Amours, amours and De tous biens plaine. Presumably his duties as a courtier took up his time to such an extent that he was not able to compose much until 1475. 

On July 6th of 1472, Van Ghizeghem is recorded as being a part of the court of Duke Charles the Bold, who would go on to lay siege on Beauvais. Scientists have long assumed that Van Ghizeghem died here, but recent research of his preserved works indicated that some pieces could only have been composed after 1472 because they display stylistic developments which were typical to later periods. Currently it is assumed that he survived the siege and was active in the French court. Van Ghizeghem would have remained at the Burgundian court until 1476. He and Adrien Basin (also composer and singer at the court) presumably accompanied Charles the Bold in his crusade to Nancy. 

Composer

The chansons Allez regrets and De tous biens plaine, were so loved in late 15th century Europe that they appear in no less than 25 distinct sources. The chansons served as source material for many later works by different composers. Nearly all of Hayne’s pieces are three-parted. They are simple and display a clear polyphonic fabric; typical characteristics of the Burgundian school. The highest voice carries the melody. His most progressive chansons are Les grans regrets and La Regretée. In La Regretée the main motif can be pointed out in almost every measure. Every part of the chanson begins with imitations in the fugue style.

A mere eleven pieces can unreservedly be attributed to Hayne but several similar anonymous preserved pieces could also be by his hand. 

Vocal works (selection)

• De tous biens plaine, three parts. You can listen to it here, in a version with a vocal upper part and 2 instrumental parts. You can find pure instrumental versions on Youtube too.
• A l’audience, four parts, only found in Italian sources. The piece quotes from Allez, regrets, to be found here.