This composer of Swiss birth was active primarily in Germany. He served as choirboy in Maximilian I's Hofkapelle, studied with Isaac, succeeding him as the court composer in Vienna and served the Duke of Bavaria in Munich from 1523 until his death. He was among a wide circle of influential artists and became well known, respected and recognized during his life. Senfl was perhaps the most prolific composer in Germany during the early sixteenth century. Senfl was also in correspondence with Luther though he did not openly support him. Compositions scored by Senfl include mass and vesper settings, motets, lieder and odes. Senfl's motets were derived from the music of Isaac and Josquin but he developed innovative polyphonic features particularly in his settings of the Propers. Using parallel thirds and sixths, Senfl developed full and enveloping sounds. When he set the Latin odes in the discant, Senfl became an influential factor in the future of Protestant hymns. The Lutheran hymnody, particularly, placed the melodic line in the soprano (upper/discant) voice and usually scored the music in four-part harmonies. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi