Orlando di Lasso (Orlandus Lassus)
(1530 - 1594)

Orlando di Lasso was born in Munich and was one of the most eminent of Netherland and 16th Century composers and conductors. Haberl claims that he was born in 1532, in spite of Vinchant's contemporary statement that 1520 was the date, and Quichelberg's that 1530 was the date.

Lassus's family seems to have used the name Lassus for some time before him. He sighed his own name variously. 

He composed an amazing 2,500 compositions and he was know as the "Prince of Music."

Befriended by various noblemen and given much travel in Italy, he became the conductor at St. Giovanni in Laterano at Rome in 1541. He visited Mons and about 1554, England, settling in Antwerp the same year. In 1557, he joined on invitation the chapel of Albert V, Duke of Bavaria. Form 1562 he was the conductor there.

His complete works work attempted by Breitkopf and Hartel, in the 19th Century, but never completed. An attempt to publish the complete works was begun by another publisher in the 20th Century.

Lassus wrote some very exquisitely beautiful music. Most of his music, unfortunately, has not been heard by modern ears. 

MP3 Examples

-> Justorum Anima
-> Resonent in Laudibus

Compact Discs

Moduli Quinis Vocibus, 1571
This is a very fine recording of Lassus Motets by the Collegium Vocale Gent, Knabenchor Hannover, Philippe Herreweghe Astrée AS 44 (1979)

Publications Dealing with Lassus

The New Grove High Renaissance Masters
W.W. Norton & Company, 1980
ISBN 0393300935 (paperback)
ISBN 0393016897 (hardback)
This will serve as a good introduction to Victoria's life and music, as well as the other great renaissance composers (Byrd, Palestrina, Josquin des Pres and Victoria.

Orlande de Lassus
Ch. Van Der Borren (in French)
Labrairie Felix Alcan 1930