La Rue spent some years in Italy, before returning to Flanders in order to begin his main compositional output. He served consecutively as singer in the Imperial Chapel of Maximilian, the Chapel of Philippe le Beau, and finally as court favorite of Margaret of Austria.

La Rue's output consists entirely of vocal music: masses, motets and chansons. Though he was a younger contemporary of Josquin Desprez, his style is more properly a continuation of that of Ockeghem, with its varied technical resources, long finely-spun melodies, and sonorous lines.

La Rue's music also displays an unusual rhythmic vitality. His magnificently dark Requiem and intricate "Missa l'Homme arme" (No. 1) are especially admired today. Todd McComb