BINCHOIS, GILLES

born c. 1400, Mons, Hainaut [now in Belgium] died Sept. 20, 1460, near Mons in full Gilles Egidius Binchois, Binchois also spelled De Binche Flemish composer of church music and of secular chansons that were among the finest of their genre, being notable for their elegance of line and grave sweetness of expression. Binchois was in Paris in 1424 serving William de la Pole, earl of Suffolk, and returned with him to Hainaut in 1425. In 1430 Binchois joined the chapel of Philip III the Good of Burgundy, where he remained until his death, eventually becoming second chaplain and cantor. By 1437 Binchois had become canon at Mons, Soignies, and Cassel. In both his sacred and secular music, Binchois cultivated the gently subtle rhythm, the suavely graceful melody, and the smooth treatment of dissonance of his English contemporaries. Some of Binchois's church music is related to English liturgical use.