Day 3

Pierre Attaingnant (also spelled Attaignant), active in Paris from around 1494 until his death in late 1551 or 1552, revolutionized music publishing in France. He pioneered the use of single-impression movable type for music printing, a technique that significantly reduced both production time and costs compared to previous methods used by publishers like Ottaviano Petrucci.

While Attaingnant is widely recognized for this innovation, some scholars suggest that English printer John Rastell may have developed single-impression printing earlier, around 1520. However, with no surviving examples of Rastell's work, Attaingnant's impact remains undisputed. His prolific publishing house produced over 1,500 chansons, featuring works by prominent Paris composers including Claudin de Sermisy, Pierre Sandrin, and Pierre Certon. He notably published five volumes of chansons by Josquin Desprez, and his extensive work with Clément Janequin helped establish both their reputations.

Attaingnant's influence was formally recognized through royal privileges for his music books, which were repeatedly renewed. His status was further elevated when he received the prestigious title of imprimeur et libraire du Roy en musique (Royal Printer and Bookseller for Music).

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