Tielman Susato

Tielman Susato (sometimes spelled Tylman Susato) was a Flemish music publisher, instrumentalist, and composer of the Renaissance period.

Not much is known about Susato’s early life. By 1531, he had joined the town band of Antwerp, performing sackbut (an early trombone), trumpet, crumhorn, flute, and recorder with them until 1549. Susato joined a partnership with two Antwerp publishers in 1541, and by 1551, had acquired all shares in their publishing business. Between 1543 and 1561, Susato and his firm published a substantial catalog including chanson anthologies, mass and motet collections, and a series of publications including Dutch songbooks, dance collections, and psalm settings.

Susato himself wrote over ninety chansons (songs), many of which are parodies of popular French and Flemish chansons and intended to be performed by amateurs. His most enduring influence is his Danserye, a collection of dance pieces intended to be performed by ensembles of string, wind, and percussion instruments. Danserye marks an early example of music written specifically for instrumental performance rather than vocal performance.