(Obreht, Hobrecht, Obertus, Hobertus), Jacob, famous Netherlandish composer; b. probably in Bergen-op-Zoom, Nov. 22, 1450 or 1451; d. Ferrara, 1505. Obrecht is first mentioned as zangmeester (director of singing) in Utrecht c. 1476-78, after which he became choirmaster for the Corporation of Notre Dame at St. Gertrude in Bergen-op-Zoom in 1479. In 1840 he took holy orders and said his first MASS as an ordained priest.

Obrecht was made maître des enfants (choir master) at Cambrai in 1484 but was dismissed a year later for his neglect of the choirboys as well as using the choir's money for his own purposes. He then was made succentor at St. Donatian in Bruges in 1486. At the invitation of the Duke of Ferrara, he obtained a leave of absence to travel to Italy. He arrived in Ferrara in late 1487, returning to Bruges in 1488. He was made maître de chapelle (master of the chapel choir) there in 1490 but was excused from that position a year later.

By 1494 Obrecht was at Notre Dame in Antwerp, serving as CAPELLANIE MAGISTER (chapel master; i.e., director of the choir) in 1495. He returned to St. Gertrude in Bergen-op-Zoom in 1496-97 and then received a benefice connected to the altar of St. Josse in Notre Dame at Antwerp in 1498. He was again at St. Donatian in Bruges from 1499 until his retirement in 1500. He then lived in Bergen-op-Zoom and made visits to Antwerp, and in 1504 he returned to the ducal court in Ferrara, where he died of the plague.

Obrecht was one of the leading composers of his era, his MASSES and MOTETS being of particular importance. He also wrote CHANSONS, many to Dutch texts.