Also known
as Roland de Lassus, Orlando di Lasso is considered by many the most important
composer of the 16th century. He was born in Mons, Belgium, around 1532
-nobody knows exactly- and belonged to the Franco-Flemish school of composers.
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Also known
as Roland de Lassus, Orlando di Lasso is considered by many the most important
composer of the 16th century. He was born in Mons, Belgium, around 1532
-nobody knows exactly- and belonged to the Franco-Flemish school of composers.
Lasso was a professional choirboy as a child and he was kidnapped
three times because of his beautiful voice, by representatives of nobles
that wanted Lasso to sing for them! He entered the service of a member
of the Gonzaga family, which were hereditary dukes of Mantua. Then, at
age eight, Lasso was admitted to the Chorister School of the Church of
St. Nicholas at Mons. At twelve, Lasso entered the musical establishment
of the viceroy of Sicily. He stayed in Italy for ten years, where he was
an apprentice in Sicily, Milan, Naples and Rome. Later in 1553, he became
maestro di cappella at the young age of twenty, which shows how talented
he was. In 1556 Albert V, Duke of Bavaria, employed him in the Ducal Chapel.
Since the Duke was deeply religious, Lasso composed mostly sacred music,
but Lasso's activities were checked for a while after the Duke died. From
1564 until the end of his life, he was maestro di cappella at the court
in Munich, where he died in 1594 as a wealthy and highly respected man.
Although Lasso received a knighthood from Emperor Maximillian, the
Order of the Golden Spur from Pope Gregory XII, the Cross of Malta from
the king of France, who became acquainted with Ronsard, the artist, while
at the French court, and who was so talented and widely acclaimed, died
insane of melancholia.
The important feature about Lasso's music is that, rather than piecing together liturgy, his song texts were connected to form a logical unit, which was an unusual technique for the time and musical genre. Because of this wonderful musical skill, he earned the names of "Orpheus de Belgique," and "Principe della Musica." One hundred and fifty of his French Chansons and a much smaller number of German Lieder include settings of Petrarch, Ariosto, Ronsard, and Marot (the artists).
Lasso was fluent in any style of his time: Villanella, Chanson (French part -songs), Motet, Madrigal, Lied (German part -songs), Hymns, and Lamentations. Lasso wrote sad songs of love, songs of the joys of life or satires. He also wrote a lot of sacred music, especially while he was employed by the Duke of Bavaria.
Lasso's Latin sacred music comprised masses and motets. His first
book of motets appeared in Antwerp in 1556, and in 1604, his sons published
516 more, which include many of his finest works and reveal the wide range
of mood already mentioned. His secular music include the chanson "Susanne
un jour", which was internationally popular for decades. Over 2000 spiritual
and secular works have survived to this day.
Lasso wrote many works, the most famous include:
Orlando di Lasso, with Palestrina and Vittoria, is considered one
of the most important composers of the Renaissance (14th century to 17th
century).
By
Marie &
Shruti
Bibliography: