Hans Leo Hassler (1564-1612)

Hans Leo Hassler (1564 - 1612) Hans Leo Hassler (1564-1612) was a German composer and organist of the late Renaissance and early Baroque eras, born in Nuremberg and elder brother of Jakob Hassler. Hans Leo Hassler was the son of an organist, and received his first instruction in music from his father, Issak Hassler. In 1584, Hassler became the first of many German composers of the time who went to Italy to continue their studies, arriving in Venice when the Venetian school was at its peak with composers writing in the resplendent polychoral style which was soon became popular throughout Europe.

In Venice, Hassler became friends with Giovanni Gabrieli, with whom he composed a wedding motet for Georg Gruber, a Nuremberg merchant living in Venice, in 1600. Together they studied with Andrea Gabrieli, Giovanni’s uncle. Under Andrea, Hassler received instruction in composition and organ playing.

Following Andrea Gabrieli’s death, Hassler returned to Germany in the latter part of 1585, moving to Augsburg where he served as an organist to Octavian II Fugger, a nobleman there. The Augsburg years were extremely creative for him and his reputation as composer and organist grew, despite being a Protestant in a region that remained Roman Catholic.

Hassler also advised on the construction of new organs and in 1596, Hassler, along with 53 other organists, was given the opportunity to examine a new instrument with 59 stops at the Schlosskirche, Groningen. He developed a clockwork organ that was later sold to Emperor Rudolf II.

In 1602, Hassler returned to Nuremberg where he became the Kapellmeister, or director of town music. While there, he was appointed ‘Kaiserlichen Hofdiener’ in the court of Rudolf II. In 1604, he took a leave of absence and traveled to Ulm, where he was wed to Cordula Claus. Four years later, Hassler moved to Dresden where he served as the electoral chamber organist to the Elector Christian II of Saxony, and eventually as Kappelmeister. By this time, Hassler had already developed the tuberculosis that would claim his life in June of 1612. After he died, Michael Praetorius and Heinrich Schütz were appointed in his place. He was and died in Frankfurt am Main.