Pierre Guédron (1575-c.1620), singer and composer, was a celebrated artisan of accompanied monody in France. In 1583 he became one of the five cantors at the chapel of Louis II de Guise, Cardinal of Lorraine. He possibly joined the Musique du Roi singers on the Cardinal's death in 1588. He was official composer for the Musique de la Chambre du Roi by March 1601, replacing Claude Le Jeune. He rose to the position of Superintendent during the reign of Louis XII, became music tutor to the queen mother Marie de Médicis and passed on the job of children's music tutor to his son-in-law Antoine Boësset. He made his name by establishing the air de cour, a popular secular genre, and becoming its undisputed master. Guédron also provided the music, airs and recitatives for ballets performed at the French court between 1598 and 1620. His legacy includes 185 ballet and court airs (in 4 / 5 parts, or for voice and lute).
