After Josquin Desprez's death and before Orlando de Lassus dominated the musical scene, a group of composers known as the "Lost Generation" emerged between 1521 and the 1550s. Among them, according to Hermann Finck, Nicolas Gombert, a student of Josquin, stood out in particular, having developed an innovative musical style. Born around 1500 in a small town west of Lille, Gombert later served Emperor Charles V. His compositions gained increasing attention and dissemination from 1529 onward.
Gombert's life was marked by numerous travels and imperial duties until, after 1538, his name temporarily disappeared from public view. He was banished to the galleys due to an incident involving a choirboy, but received a pardon for composing his "Swan Songs." His extensive output, encompassing masses, magnificats, and motets, demonstrates his distinctive style. His music, particularly through his innovative use of imitation techniques, stood out significantly from that of his predecessors.
Whether Gombert was actually considered a direct student of Josquin remains uncertain. While Josquin relied on paired imitations, Gombert incorporated all voices equally, thus creating a unique, harmonically rich structure. Despite his connection to Josquin, Gombert developed an independent musical style characterized by complex harmonies and original imitation techniques.