Hans Hassler
Hans Leo Hassler was born in Nürnberg, Germany, and was baptized on October 26, 1564. He was the son of Isaak Hassler, an organist, from whom he received his initial musical education. In 1584, Hassler traveled to Venice to study under Andrea Gabrieli, becoming one of the first notable German composers to study in Italy. During his time in Venice, he befriended Giovanni Gabrieli, Andrea's nephew.
Upon returning to Germany in 1585, Hassler became the organist for Octavian II Fugger in Augsburg, where he gained recognition as a composer and organist. Despite being a Protestant in a predominantly Catholic region, his work flourished, and he contributed significantly to both sacred and secular music. His compositions were influenced by the Venetian polychoral style, which he helped introduce to Germany, blending German counterpoint with Italian forms.
Hassler's notable works include his "Madrigali" and the collection "Lustgarten," which features the song "Mein Gemüt ist mir verwirret," later adapted by Johann Sebastian Bach. He was also involved in organ design and construction, creating a clockwork organ for Emperor Rudolf II.
In 1602, Hassler returned to Nürnberg as Kapellmeister and later moved to Dresden in 1608 to serve as the court organist for Christian II of Saxony. He passed away on June 8, 1612, in Frankfurt, having left a lasting impact on the development of German music through his integration of Italian influences.
