Musical Gratitude

Liszt wasn’t the only musician to take holy orders. Josquin des Prez—chapel master to King Louis XII of France—was also a churchman.

The story goes that the king had promised Josquin a post with a better income, then simply forgot. Josquin’s reminder wasn’t a complaint letter. It was music.

He wrote an anthem for chapel using a line from the 119th Psalm as its text: “Oh, think upon Thy servant as concerning Thy word.” Louis got the message immediately and granted the promised appointment.

And Josquin knew how to say thank you in the same language. Soon afterward he offered another anthem, again from the same psalm: “O Lord, Thou hast dealt graciously with Thy servant.”

A gentle nudge… and a musical thank‑you note, centuries before email.