Barbier, Jacques. Josquin Desprez. Centre d’études supérieures de la Renaissance. Tours, France: Bleu nuit éditeur, 2010.
In French. Biographical chapter shows awareness of research up to 2009 but is also inaccurate in some details. Brief discussions of masses, motets, and chansons attributed to Josquin. Discussion of Josquin’s influence on other composers. Works list and short annotated bibliography. 286 pp.
Fallows, David. Josquin. Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols, 2009.
The best, most up-to-date, and most insightful study of Josquin’s biography and major compositions in English. Does not discuss all of Josquin’s works but is full of illuminating observations about the music. Presents and defends controversial views on certain aspects of biography and the chronology of certain works. Useful appendices. Extensive bibliography organized chronologically. 522 pp.
Fiore, Carlo. Josquin des Prez. Constellatio Musica 10. Palermo, Italy: L’Epos, 2003.
In Italian. Short introduction to Josquin’s biography and works. Biographical chapter takes research after 1990 into account. Chapters on masses, motets, and secular compositions are very selective. Final chapter on Josquin reception from the 16th century to the early 21st. Works list and short bibliography. 203 pp.
Macey, Patrick, et al. “Josquin des Prez.” Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press.
Up-to-date biography, overview of the music; works list; bibliography. Available online by subscription.
Osthoff, Helmuth. Josquin Desprez. 2 vols. Tutzing, Germany: Hans Schneider, 1962–1965.
In German. The first and still the most complete detailed study by one author of Josquin’s life and works. Worth consulting even though the biography is out of date and a number of Osthoff’s conclusions about the authenticity of certain works have been challenged. Transcriptions of documents and discussions of individual works (every work in the works list is discussed or at least mentioned in the text). Vol. 1 (biography, masses and mass sections, music example), 243 pp.; vol. 2 (Magnificats, hymns, motets, secular works, works list, indices, music examples), 402 pp.
Reese, Gustave, and Jeremy Noble. “Josquin Desprez.” In The New Grove High Renaissance Masters. Edited by Gustave Reese, 1–90. New York: Norton, 1984.
Entry in Grove 6 (1980) revised. Biography is out of date. Valuable for Noble’s discussion of the works, the first overview of the music since Osthoff 1962–1965. Works list (Noble); bibliography (Reese).
Sherr, Richard, ed. The Josquin Companion. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.
Collaborative multi-author volume. Chronology. Chapters on all musical genres as well as discussion of techniques of analysis and symbolism in Josquin’s music. Annotated discography of CDs containing Josquin’s music. Works list. Bibliography. Includes CD with eight examples of works discussed in the text. 691 pp.