Susato, Tielman

( ca. 1510 - ca. 1570 )

Tielman Susato was important as a composer and as a music printer.  Occasionally signing himself as Tylman Susato Agrippinensis ( after the old name for Cologne - Colonia Aggripina ) one concludes that he was either born in Cologne himself or was part of an Antwerp family originating from there. He also played several wind instruments as trumpet or flute.
Susato established the first important Music Publishing House in the Low Countries. His publications included both anthologies and books devoted to single composers. One of his projects was a series he called the Musyck Boexken, comprising Flemish songs. In the preface to the first one he asked Flemish composers to send him songs "suitable for publication" to show that "our Flemish tongue" was as suitable for music as French, Latin, or Italian. Another of his publications, Souterliedekens, is a group of polyphonic and metrical Dutch psalm settings, intended for the home rather than church.
His most important original music is a set of two books of 50 Cantus Firmus Chansons in "two or three parts," meaning with the bass part optional. This is the largest number of extant cantus firmus chansons by any composer. Susato said in his preface to them that their purpose was to teach and encourage younger people who were not experienced at singing in ensemble. As such, the polyphonic writing is imitative. In addition, Susato also wrote and arranged various dances of the time in relatively simple, more homophonic texture. 

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