Claudin Patoulet (c.1525 - c.1570), a composer from the South of the Netherlands. Claudin [Claudius] Patoulet [Potoulet, Potoletus]: 1545-1550 Haarlem / 1546-1548 Leiden / 1550-1550 Delft, singer, choirmaster, at St.Bavokerk and Pieterskerk. Patoulet belongs to the fourth generation of polyphonic composers out of the Netherlands. Unfortunately only a little is known about Patoulet, but he is certainly born in the region known at that time as the Netherlands, the Low Countries. His native land seems to be the southern part of the Netherlands, which had an enormous area of distinguished musicians. Place and date of birth are unknown. Patoulet is more known in the latinized form of his name (Potoletus). Known about his work is a small period in the northern part of the Netherlands. Claudin Patoulet was initially a singer and soon choirmaster in Haarlem at the church of St. Bavo (1545-1546;1548-1549), later in Leiden (Pieterschurch,1546-1548) and some later in Delft (New Church, 1550), before suddenly disappearing out of the history of music. Some minor court cases are mentioned in Leiden between 1546 September 1547 in which Patoulet was involved. Fortunately some of his work has been preserved in the CODEX E published between 1549 and 1567 in Leiden. Codex E is one of the six magnificent Leiden Choir books (Codex A –F). Six compositions by Claudius Potoletus are found in this choir book. In these six anthologies 34 Netherlands composers are represented with 314 compositions. It is interesting to see in these anthologies not only the great masters of the Netherlands polyphonic composers, but a lot rather unknown. They produced among others sacred music for the Mass and the Seven Hours. After the Reformation the head emphasis came lie on the celebration of the Mass. Before the Reformation the second form of celebration in the catholic church was even so important: The singing of the Seven Hours the Officie. These Services resulted in large numbers of polyphonic music. See all the choir books containing polyphonic music which has been provided for this sort of Services. This music in the mentioned seven hours Services was already practised in abbeys and monasteries all over Europe and so a source of large number of interesting sacred polyphonic music. By means of the performed music it was Magna cum pompa: Power by pomp and circumstance in the Minsters! That’s the reason it was busy in the churches. Patoulet lived in that time during the generation of Jacob Clement non Papa (c.1510 -c.1556), Nicolas Gombert (c.1494-c.1557 ) and Adrian Willaert (c.1488 - 1562). Patoulet must have especially appreciated and known the sound palette of Gombert more specific his dark and low colouring in the voices, which Patoulet practices too in his compositions. The musical example of his ability is shown in his motet De Sancto Cornelio a 6 voices and in the plainchant Te Deum Laudamus in alternatim form a 4 voices.