Jean Richafort (1480 - 1547), a Franco-Flemish composer, born in Ricartsvoorde (Henegouwen), died in Bruges, Belgium. He was a pupil of Josquin.

Jean Richafort was probably born in about 1480 in de neighbourhood of Hainaut in a small village called ”Ricartsvoorde” in the Low Countries from where he relates his name. ( It is supposed Ryfvart near St. Omaars). He belongs to the third generation of Flemish/Netherlands composers. Nothing is known about his early live and musical education. According to the poet Pierre de Ronsard he studied with Josquin des Prez (c.1440 -1521), although there is at this moment no evidence for it, but nevertheless he adored Josquin in following his style.
From 1507 up to 1509 Richafort was Maître de Chapelle, choir-master, at St. Rombaud cathedral in Malines (Mechelen) where two of his brothers François and Guillaume were among the cantors there. He was succeeded there by Noël Bauldwyn (c.1480 – c. 1525). From 1510, Jean Richafort was engaged at the court of Louis XII. After the death of this one, Richafort will work at the court of François I. In 1516, at the time of a journey to Italy with the Royal Chapel and a meeting in Bologna between the papal court and the Royal chapel Pope Leon X, strongly impressed by the compositions of Jean Richafort, gifted him with a special rent. Perhaps in the twenties and thirties he served French Kings due to a large number of French publications?
For a while from 1531 he served in Brussels Queen Mary of Hungary, Regent of the Netherlands/Low Countries. From 1542 to 1547 Richafort was Maître de chapelle, Choir-Master at St. Gilles in Bruges. He died after 1547 uncertain when in Bruges. In 1556, the famous Parisian printers Le Roy et Ballard published, on a posthumous basis a volume of nineteen motets, an anthology on the art of Jean Richafort titled “Joannis Richafort modulorum quartuor, quinque and sex vocum, liber primus”.
Richafort wrote Masses, one Requiem dedicated to Josquin, Magnificat-settings, Motets (35) and Chansons (20). About eighteen composers at least, whose Divitis, lupus, Ruffo, Mouton, Morales and even Palestrina took as a starting point the motet “Quem dicunt hominess” by Jean Richafort to compose their "parody-Mass", which was not unusual practice in that days, but acknowledged that Richafort was highly esteemed by his colleagues! In seven anthologies appearing between 1519 and 1583 were compositions by Richafort published.