Hans-Leo Hassler and his contemporaries

Featuring: soprano, cornetto, 2 sackbuts, dulcian, violone, theorbo, organ

Born in Nuremberg, Hans Leo Hassler was one of the first German composers who travelled to Italy to accomplish his musical studies; his first journey to La Serenissima happened in 1584. In Venice he became friends with Giovanni Gabrieli and studied with his uncle, Andrea Gabrieli. Hassler returned then to Germany and went to Augsburg where he worked  as an organist to Octavian II Fugger, a nobleman there. Hassler was not only a composer, but also an active organist and a consultant to organ builders.   In 1602, Hassler returned to Nuremberg where he became the Kapellmeister. Four years later, Hassler moved to Dresden where he served as chamber organist and as Kapellmeister. After he died, Michael Praetorius and Heinrich Schütz were appointed in his place. Hassler was one of the first to bring the new trends of the Italian and particularly the Venetian style across the Alps, adopting the concertato style, the double-choirs, and the very explicit emotional way of writing music, influencing in a very deep way the German musical culture and musical style.

H. L. Hassler              Canzona (F Dur)

H. L. Hassler              Canite Tuba

G. P. Caprioli              Transfige dulcissime Jesu

Giovanni Picchi         Canzon III

H. L . Hassler             Beatus Vir aus Cantiones Sacrae

H. L. Hassler              Canzona (g moll)

H. Schütz                    Oh Jesu nomen dulce

B. Marini                    Canzona a doi Bassi

H. L. Hassler              Exultate Deo

A. Gabrieli                  Ricercare

G. Gabrieli                  Canzona

A. Grandi                    Hodie nobis de caelo

G. Guami                    Canzona 17

H. L. Hassler              Missa Ecce quam Bonus

Kyrie

Gloria

Credo

Sanctus

Benedictus

Agnus

Photo @Martin Chiang Photography