His first book of 53 madrigals (Venice, 1538) reached it sixteenth edition in 1617, and was followed by five other books. Together with Willaert and Verdelot, he was one of the founders of the madrigal. he united French delicacy of sentiment, Flemish mastery of musical form, and Italian culture in quite an exceptional way, and was at once one of the most important and prolific composers of his day.
Arcadelt was on of the many Flemish composers who migrated to Italy he helped to found the 'great' Roman school, and was one of Palestrina's most distinguished forerunners. In 1540 he was admitted into the Pontifical Choir at Rome, and in 1555 (?) entered the service of Cardinal Charles of Lorraine, Duke of Guise, whom he followed to Paris. The story that he was a pupil of Joaquin Deprès is probably untrue. Jacob Arcadelt born in the Netherlands towards the end of the 15th century, died in Paris.
