French composer. A singer to Cardinal de Guise in 1583, when he won a composition prize at Evreux; joined the royal chapel as a singer in 1590, became master of the children in 1599, and in 1601 succeeded Le Jeune as royal chamber composer (his son-in-law Boësset succeeded him in 1613). The only French composer of his time whose music shows any knowledge of contemporary Italian developments, he composed récits -- expressive and declamatory solos with chordal lute accompaniments -- and music for many court entertainments. He published six volumes of airs de cour.