...The composers of this time and place, and the music they produced, are also known as the Dutch School. As the country borders in this period can not be compared with any national borders today, the term "Dutch" may be confusing. Few of the artists originated in what is now the Netherlands. Instead, the word "Dutch" refers to the Low Countries, roughly corresponding to modern Belgium Flanders with for instance Adriaan Willaert and Jacob Obrecht or Wallonia with for instance Josquin des Prez and Orlande de Lassus, "...the innovative Josquin des Prés, who created a close link between music and text, and, the great creative musician who charmed the courts of the Renaissance.", northern France and the Netherlands. Most artists were born in Hainaut, Flanders and Brabant. During periods of political stability, this was a center of cultural activity for more than two hundred years, although the exact centers shifted location during this time, and by the end of the sixteenth century the focal point of the musical world shifted from this region to Italy. Read full entry

This entry is from Wikipedia,the leading user-contributed encyclopedia.It may not have been reviewed by professional editors(See full disclaimer)