Jacques Arcadelt, also possibly Jacobus Flandrus, was a prolific composer who began his career with sacred music and shifted to secular having composed in excess of 300 chansons and madrigals. Being a student of Josquin Desprez placed Arcadelt in rare company and in a position to learn and master the conventional techniques. Already in his "Domine Deus omnipotens" Arcadelt borrowed from the secular formulas of the chanson. The three "Lamentations" similarly demonstrate Desprez' as well as de Silva's influence; however, Arcadelt used unusual elements for the motet. His chansons demonstrate a willingness to supercede the boundaries of convention as well. His single voiced sections arranged in contrasting rhythms to multiple voiced parts were not usual but were developed fairly soon after he turned to secular musical forms. The apparent rhythmic differences carried over into Arcadelt's madrigals as well. This is clear in "Chiare, fresch's dolce acque," and the popular "Il dolce e bianco cigno." With an unusual understanding of the different forms in which he composed, combined with his abundant production, Arcadelt succeeded in maintaining the independence of these genres. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi