Hans Leo Hassler

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Biography

Born: August 27, 1562; Nuremberg, Germany   Died: June 8, 1612; Frankfurt, Germany  
Hans Leo Hassler was one of the most significant of the composers who brought Italian styles to Germany in the early seventeenth century. His father, Isaak Hassler, was a stonecutter and musician in Nuremberg; all three Hassler sons had music lessons from their father and became musicians. Like many other composers from north of the Alps, Hassler went to Venice to pursue his education, probably on a municipal stipend, and there met Giovanni Read more Gabrieli and his uncle, Andrea Gabrieli, the organist of St. Mark's cathedral. Hassler became the elder Gabrieli's pupil, remaining in Venice for 18 months. By 1586, he was chamber organist to Octavian Fugger II in Augsburg. The Fuggers also hired Hassler's two brothers, and practically admitted them to the family circle. Hassler composed prolifically, and in 1591 the emperor gave him a patent to copyright his works. Hassler's fame grew so much that Moritz, Landgrave of Hesse, tried unsuccessfully to get Octavian II to "loan" Hassler to him. Meanwhile, Hassler had expanded his business interests, becoming a metals dealer and getting involved in the manufacture of mechanical musical instruments.

In 1600, Octavian II died, leaving Hassler without a job. Augsburg's town council, to keep him, gave him the job of town music director, but he went home to Nuremberg the next year to take a similar position. In 1604 he got a year's leave of absence, went to Ulm, and married the daughter of a highly placed merchant. When the year's leave expired, Hassler cut his ties with Nuremberg, became a citizen of Ulm, and in 1607 was admitted to the Ulm merchants' guild.

In 1608 Elector Christian II of Saxony commissioned Hassler to write a composition for his capital at Dresden, and appointed him as chamber organist. Soon after arriving in Dresden, he was found to have tuberculosis. No compositions are known to have been written by Hassler after 1608, but he does not seem to have cut back on his other work , and, indeed, took over the duties of the Kapellmeister. In 1612 the Electoral court visited Frankfurt am Main for the crowning of Emperor Mathias. While he was there Hassler collapsed and died.

Hassler was highly influenced by the two Gabrielis and by Orlando di Lassus. He wrote for both the Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches, although he himself was a Protestant. As a composer he was conservative, hewing to the highly polyphonic idiom that had been in its heyday a half century earlier. Hassler never wrote with a basso continuo, the hallmark of the new Baroque style. He used the cantus firmus technique as the basis of his polyphony; often all parts treat motives derived from the cantus firmus. He also wrote a large quantity of secular music, including Italian madrigals in five or six voices, instrumental works (also very contrapuntal), and dance songs that are highly rhythmic and homophonic. One of his best known songs was the romantic G'mut ist mir verwirret ("My Head is Spinning"), whose theme Johann Sebastian Bach combined with the words of Gerhardt, "O Haput voll Blut und Wunde" (O, Head all Bloody and Wounded), in his St. Matthew Passion to describe the sufferings of Christ on the Cross. Another popular song he wrote, All Lust und Freud (All Pleasure and Joy), a galliard, was adapted by Schütz in his Psalmen Davids and in that form is still used in Protestant services. Read less
Browse 1-25 of 89 Available Recordings
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  • 1.
    Essential Choral
    Essential Choral
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 234422 Release Date: 01/22/2013   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Antonio Vivaldi,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  George Frideric Handel,  Gregorio Allegri  ... 
    Performer:  Gerald Finley,  David Bell,  Robert Tear,  John Shirley-Quirk  ... 
    Conductor:  Sir Neville Marriner,  Sir David Willcocks,  Sir Charles Mackerras,  Stephen Cleobury  ... 
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  • 2.
    Gallus, Hassler, Schein / Thios Omilos
    Gallus, Hassler, Schein / Thios Omilos
    Label: Rondeau Productions   Catalog: 6041 Release Date: 10/30/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Hermann Schein,  Hans Leo Hassler,  Jacob Handl
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Thios Omilos
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  • 3.
    Pater Noster: A Choral Reflection On The Lord's Prayer / King’s Singers
    Pater Noster: A Choral Reflection On The Lord's Prayer / King’s Singers
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 8572987 Release Date: 10/30/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Anonymous,  Heinrich Schütz,  Mikolaj Zielenski,  Josquin Des Préz  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  King's Singers
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  • 4.
    Weynacht Gesaenge / Stimmwerck
    Weynacht Gesaenge / Stimmwerck
    Label: Christophorus   Catalog: 77364 Release Date: 10/30/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Samuel Scheidt,  Anonymous,  Hans Leo Hassler,  Esaias Reusner  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Stimmwerck
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  • 5.
    On The Shoulders Of Giants
    Label: Cantus Recordings   Catalog: 5638019872 Release Date: 10/23/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Pérotin,  Thomas Tallis,  Hans Leo Hassler,  Claudio Monteverdi  ... 
    Performer:  Aaron Humble,  Adam Reinwald,  David Walton,  Paul Rudoi  ... 
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  • 6.
    In Paradisum - Spiritual Classical Music
    In Paradisum - Spiritual Classical Music
    Label: Brilliant Classics   Catalog: 94412 Release Date: 08/28/2012   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Gabriel Fauré,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  César Franck,  Giovanni Battista Pergolesi  ... 
    Performer:  Timothy Brown,  Angharad Gruffydd Jones,  Lawrence Zazzo,  Pamela Heuvelmans  ... 
    Conductor:  Pieter-Jan Leusink,  Christopher Robinson,  Timothy Brown,  Nicol Matt  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Holland Boys Choir,  Cambridge St. John's College Choir,  Cambridge Bach Ensemble  ... 
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  • 7.
    Kein Schoner' Land: Deutsche Volkslieder
    Kein Schoner' Land: Deutsche Volkslieder
    Label: Rondeau Productions   Catalog: 1008 Release Date: 07/31/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Hans Leo Hassler,  Anton Wilhelm Florentin v,  Traditional,  Karl SchauB  ... 
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  • 8.
    Nun Lasst Uns Frohlich Sein / Ratzinger, Regensburger Domspatzen
    Nun Lasst Uns Frohlich Sein / Ratzinger, Regensburger Domspatzen
    Label: Ars Musici   Catalog: 23355 Release Date: 07/31/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Hans Leo Hassler,  Orlando de Lassus,  Jean-Baptiste Lully,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart  ... 
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  • 9.
    Liturgical Music From San Marco / Nova Cantica
    Liturgical Music From San Marco / Nova Cantica
    Label: Newton Classics   Catalog: 8802129 Release Date: 06/26/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Giovanni Gabrieli,  Giovanni Croce,  Hans Leo Hassler,  Antonino Biffi  ... 
    Conductor:  Paolo Cammozzo
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Complesso Vocale e Strumentale Antonio Lotti
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  • 10.
    A New Venetian Coronation 1595 / Mccreesh, Gabrieli Consort
    A New Venetian Coronation 1595 / Mccreesh, Gabrieli Consort
    Label: Signum U.k.   Catalog: 287 Release Date: 06/19/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Hans Leo Hassler,  Cesare Bendinelli,  Giovanni Gabrieli,  Andrea Gabrieli  ... 
    Conductor:  Paul McCreesh
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Gabrieli Consort
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  • 11.
    Heinrich Scheidemann: Organ Works / Doeselaar
    Heinrich Scheidemann: Organ Works / Doeselaar
    Label: Md&g (Dabringhaus & Grimm)   Catalog: 9061746 Release Date: 06/19/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Hans Leo Hassler,  Heinrich Scheidemann
    Performer:  Leo van Doeselaar
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  • 12.
    Geistliche Musik Fur Ein Ganzes Jahr (Sacred Music For The Entire Year) / Kreile, Dresdner Kreuzchor
    Geistliche Musik Fur Ein Ganzes Jahr (Sacred Music For The Entire Year) / Kreile, Dresdner Kreuzchor
    Label: Berlin Classics   Catalog: 300332 Release Date: 06/12/2012   Number of Discs: 4
    Composer:  Heinrich Schütz,  Johann Caspar Horn,  Sethus Calvisius,  Samuel Seidel  ... 
    Performer:  Fritz Herrmann,  Georg Guldner,  Felix Morgner,  Franz Lindner  ... 
    Conductor:  Roderich Kreile
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cappella Sagittariana
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  • 13.
    Ack, Libertas!
    Ack, Libertas!
    Label: Footprint Records   Catalog: 66 Release Date: 04/24/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Traditional,  Andreas Hammerschmidt,  Thomas Kingo,  Anonymous  ... 
    Performer:  Martin Bagge,  Mikael Paulsson
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble Mare Balticum
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  • 14.
    Vespers For The End Of The Church Year / Kreile, Dresdner Kreuzchor
    Vespers For The End Of The Church Year / Kreile, Dresdner Kreuzchor
    Label: Berlin Classics   Catalog: 300062 Release Date: 02/14/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Hans Leo Hassler,  Johann Walter,  Heinrich Schütz,  Louis Spohr  ... 
    Conductor:  Roderich Kreile
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Dresden Kreuz Choir
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  • 15.
    Choral Classics - Choral Classics From Cambridge
    Choral Classics - Choral Classics From Cambridge
    Label: Brilliant Classics   Catalog: 9234 Release Date: 11/15/2011   Number of Discs: 5
    Composer:  Giovanni Palestrina,  Gregorio Allegri,  Robert Ramsey,  Thomas Weelkes  ... 
    Performer:  Jennifer Ward-Clarke,  Jonathan Brown,  Elizabeth Kenny,  Robert Howes  ... 
    Conductor:  Timothy Brown,  Stephen Cleobury,  Christopher Robinson,  Matthew Best
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Clare College Choir,  Baroque Brass of London,  Cambridge King's College Choir  ... 
    CD: $29.99
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  • 16.
    Time Piece
    Time Piece
    Label: Ars Musici   Catalog: 233415 Release Date: 11/15/2011   Number of Discs: 4
    Composer:  Tomás Luis de Victoria,  Orlando de Lassus,  Josquin Des Préz,  Ludwig Senfl  ... 
    CD: $48.99
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  • 17.
    Flash - Marimba Miniatures / Edwardes
    Flash - Marimba Miniatures / Edwardes
    Label: Tall Poppies   Catalog: 215 Release Date: 10/11/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Hans Leo Hassler,  Matthias Schmitt,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Elena Kats-Chernin  ... 
    Performer:  Claire Edwardes
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  • 18.
    150 German Folksongs / Prey, Schreier, Dresden Kreuzchor, Thomanerchor Leipzig
    150 German Folksongs / Prey, Schreier, Dresden Kreuzchor, Thomanerchor Leipzig
    Label: Capriccio Records   Catalog: 7106 Release Date: 08/30/2011   Number of Discs: 5
    Composer:  Anonymous,  Friedrich Silcher,  Felix Mendelssohn,  Traditional  ... 
    Performer:  Konrad Ragossnig,  Peter Schreier,  Geoffrey Parsons,  Hermann Prey  ... 
    Conductor:  Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden,  Roland Buchner,  Jörg-Peter Weigle
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  • 19.
    Hohepunkte Der Chormusik
    Hohepunkte Der Chormusik
    Label: Berlin Classics   Catalog: 300227 Release Date: 07/12/2011   Number of Discs: 10
    Composer:  Heinrich Isaac,  Pierre de La Rue,  Josquin Des Préz,  Antoine de Févin  ... 
    Performer:  Karl-Heinz Schmieder,  Werner Eberhardt,  Siegfried Hausmann,  Joachim Vogt  ... 
    Conductor:  Dietrich Knothe,  Hans Gruss,  Roderich Kreile,  Rudolf Mauersberger  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Schütz-Akademie,  Virtuosi Saxoniae,  Trompetensemble Ludwig Güttler  ... 
    On sale! $59.98
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  • 20.
    Best Hymns 50
    Best Hymns 50
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 48472 Release Date: 04/19/2011   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  John Goss,  Gaelic Traditional,  Ralph Vaughan Williams,  Martin Luther  ... 
    Performer:  Stephen Cleobury,  Thomas Williamson,  Sioned Williams,  Benjamin Bayl  ... 
    Conductor:  Stephen Cleobury,  Sir David Willcocks,  Sir Philip Ledger,  Philip Moore  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Wallace Collection (Brass Ensemble)
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  • 21.
    Choral Music Of Hassler & Cornelius
    Choral Music Of Hassler & Cornelius
    Label: Priory Records   Catalog: 5042 Release Date: 04/12/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Hans Leo Hassler,  Anton Bruckner,  Franz Liszt,  Peter Cornelius
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  • 22.
    Hassler: Sacred And Secular Music / Van Nevel, Currende
    Hassler: Sacred And Secular Music / Van Nevel, Currende
    Label: Etcetera Records   Catalog: 1409 Release Date: 04/12/2011   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Hans Leo Hassler
    Conductor:  Erik Van Nevel
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Currende Consort
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  • 23.
    Best Hymns 100
    Best Hymns 100
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 97563 Release Date: 03/29/2011   Number of Discs: 6
    Composer:  Traditional,  Martin Luther,  William Henry Harris,  Edward Bairstow  ... 
    Performer:  Tom Williamson,  Sioned Williams,  Benjamin Bayl,  Thomas Bullard  ... 
    Conductor:  Stephen Cleobury,  Sir David Willcocks,  Sir Philip Ledger,  Philip Moore  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cambridge King's College Choir,  The Wallace Collection
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  • 24.
    In Paradisum
    In Paradisum
    Label: Brilliant Classics   Catalog: 94211 Release Date: 03/22/2011   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Gabriel Fauré,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  César Franck,  Giovanni Battista Pergolesi  ... 
    Performer:  Timothy Brown,  Angharad Gruffydd Jones,  Lawrence Zazzo,  Pamela Heuvelmans  ... 
    Conductor:  Pieter-Jan Leusink,  Christopher Robinson,  Timothy Brown,  Nicol Matt  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Holland Boys Choir,  Cambridge St. John's College Choir,  Cambridge Bach Ensemble  ... 
    CD: $11.99
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  • 25.
    Danses De La Renaissance / Clemencic Consort
    Danses De La Renaissance / Clemencic Consort
    Label: Harmonia Mundi   Catalog: 195610 Release Date: 01/11/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Jacques Moderne,  Tylman Susato,  Claude Gervaise,  Pierre Phalčse  ... 
    Conductor:  René Clemencic
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Clemencic Consort
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