''Missa L'homme armé sexti toni'' is probably the latter of two '' L'homme arme'' masses by

Josquin des Prez Josquin Lebloitte dit des Prez ( – 27 August 1521) was a composer of High Renaissance music, who is variously described as French or Franco-Flemish. Considered one of the greatest composers of the Renaissance, he was a central figure of the ...

, both published in 1502. " sexti toni" refers to the use of the sixth

Gregorian mode A Gregorian mode (or church mode) is one of the eight systems of pitch organization used in Gregorian chant. History The name of Pope Gregory I was attached to the variety of chant that was to become the dominant variety in medieval western an ...

. It uses Paraphrase technique in which the ''L'homme armé'' tune is shared between all voices rather than being confined to a single one, as in Josquin's tenor mass ('' Missa L'homme armé super voces musicales''). The five sections of the mass contain several examples of compositional virtuosity, including strict canons in the Sanctus/Osanna and simultaneous statements of the theme both forwards and in retrograde in the final Agnus Dei.

References

*Noble, Jeremy (1972), sleeve notes to his recording with The Josquin Choir Masses by Josquin des Prez Renaissance music {{classical-composition-stub