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Hans Leo Hassler, important German composer and organist of the late
Renaissance, was born in Nuremberg in August, 1564. First actual records are of
his baptism on August 17. One of three sons of the prominent musician Issak
Hassler (1530-1591) from whom he received his early musical training, Hans also
studied with Leonhard Lechner (c.1550-1606), a pupil of Lassus (1532-1594).
Hans Hassler left Nuremberg in 1584 for further studies in Venice. During his
eighteen months in Venice, Hassler studied with Andrea Gabrieli (1510-1586) and
became a colleague of Giovanni Gabrieli (c.1554-1612), with whom he composed a
wedding motet in 1600. Hassler's musical style suggests that he was acquainted with the music of Baldassere Donato (1527-1603).
Through his association with Andrea Gabrieli, Hassler secured an appointment as
chamber organist to Octavian II Fugger in Augsburg in 1586. His career in
Augsburg would last for fifteen years and bring Hassler to a position of
prominence as a German composer, even being granted copyright privileges for his
compositions. However, Hassler's religious convictions as a Protestant would stifle his career.
After the death of his patron Octavian in 1601, Hassler took a position in
Nuremberg as director of town music. Eventually he was appointed Kaiserkirchen
Hofdiener at the empirical court of Rudolf II. Hassler moved to Ulm in 1604,
supposedly on a year's leave of absence. However, he severed his ties to
Nuremberg, joining the musician's guild in Ulm.
In 1608, Hassler was appointed electoral chamber organist for Dresden, Saxony.
Soon afterwards, he developed tuberculosis. Hassler died while attending the
coronation of Emperor Matthias at Frankfurt am Main. He would be succeeded at
the chapel by Praetorius (1571-1621) and Schütz (1585-1672).
Hassler is seen as the first great German Protestant composer. His early works
were for the Roman church and reflect much Italian and Venetian influence. His
later works are more ethnically German and seem to flow out of the spirit of
German folk song.
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Last Updated: July 17, 2001