Jacob Senleches

Who is Jacob Senleches?

Jacob Senleches was a Franco-Flemish composer and harpist of the late Middle Ages. He composed in a style commonly known as the ars subtilior.

It has been suggested that Jacob Senleches has been born in St. Luc near Evreux, France or in Senleches in Cambrai, today France. In 1382 Senleches seems to have been present at the court of Eleanor of Aragon, Queen of Castile, possibly in her service. In Fuions de ci he laments Eleanor's death and resolves to seek his fortune either "en Aragon, en France ou en Bretaingne".

Afterwards he is found in service of Pedro de Luna, Cardinal of Aragon, as a harpist. There is a treasury document assigning payments to one "Jaquemin de Sanleches, juglar de harpe" from the royal household in Navarra dated August 21, 1383. The payment is made so that Jacquemin may return to "his master", Pedro de Luna.

Despite the small number of transmitted compositions Jacob de Senleches is counted among the central personalities of Ars subtilior. He developed many distinctive rhythmic and notational innovations.