Gervaise, Claude

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Gervaise, Claude

Gervaise, Claude, French composer who flourished in the 16th century. He was a violist and chamber musician to François I and Henri II. He composed many dances and chansons; 6 vols. of his Danceries à 4 et 5 parties were publ. by Attaignant from about 1545 to 1556, but only 3 vols. remain. A selection of his dances is included in Vol. 23 (Danceries) of Les Maîtres Musiciens, ed. by H. Expert (1908). Several chansons by Gervaise appear in 16th-century collections.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire