Though little information can be obtained concerning Verdelot's early career it is known that he maintained positions in Florence between 1523 and 1527 and that he also held a position in Rome. As a French composer one might expect that Verdelot composed a number of chansons. This is simply not the case. He did compose over fifty motets and two masses and numerous madrigals. A study of his motets indicates three periods of composition in which his works were qualitatively different. The initial period included melismatic writing, narrow melodic compasses and progressions occurring through related phrases. Secondarily his style became more forceful considering the textual material and lastly Verdelot's motets demonstrated a unified maturity of words and music. Madrigals by Verdelot, in some opinions were his most important contributions as he was among the first composers to write in this medium. Among his contemporaries were Festa and Arcadelt. Poets that contributed textual material included Accolti, Amanio, Ariosto, Machiavelli and others. Both his motes and his madrigals were well-known. Characteristics of his madrigals included four voiced settings, some arranged in imitation and others formed through chordal and syllabic writing. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi