Orlando di Lasso

 

Nationality: Flemish

Born: Mons, 1530 or 1532

Died: Munich, June 14 1594 

 

Type of music: Polyphonic Sacred music, lyrical secular music

Main works: Psalmi Davidis poenitentiales (1584), Tristis est anima mea (1568), 'Adoremus te, Christe' (1604)

Lasso lived in Mons as a child and became a choir boy at the church of St. Nicholas. Here he attained recognition for his voice and it's said this lead to him being kidnapped three times by other choirs. He spent the rest of his early years travelling in Sicily and Italy serving the households of various Italian Nobles.

In 1556, he joined the court and was serving Duke Albrecht V of Bavaria in Munich. By 1563, he attained the position of 'Maesto di capella', which he would retain until he died in 1594. His duties included providing a mix of sacred and secular music for Chapel services, court entertainment, banquets and state visits. In 1569 he composed music for the marriage ceremonies of Duke Wilhelm V of Bavaria to Renee of Lorraine.

Lasso's earliest compositions were published in Antwerp an Vienna when he was in his early 20's. It included collections of madrigals, songs and motets.

Lasso's music was definite of the Franco-Netherlandish style in the late Renaissance period. He wasa direct contemporary of Giovanni Pierluigi as they died the same year.

There are over 2000 compositions by Lasso that survive, and many of them were printed between 1555 and 1604. His works include Madrigals, up to 516 Motets, a collection of Chansons, 7 collections of Lieder (German songs), and Dutch songs.

A noteable trait of Lasso's music was the attention he paid to relating his music to the meaning of his texts. This is a method that would influence and continue in 17^th century Baroque music.

Spotify link for the Classical Cafe playlist: 

https://play.spotify.com/user/1146446707/playlist/722kiKqGuaxYnbQqnjifAr