Jacob Hassler, one of the composers on this album, was involved in a paternity dispute and only married Leonora Ostermair after a complaint was lodged and he was threatened with torture.
Recording & Production
The harpsichord used for this recording, a Franciscus Patavinus instrument from 1561, was strung with Malcolm Rose strings, fitted with condor feather plectrums, and tuned in mean-tone temperament.
Instruments
The harpsichord used in this recording was made by Franciscus Patavinus in 1561 and is one of the few surviving 16th-century harpsichords.
Compositional Technique
The Ricercar, a form used by Jacob Hassler on this album, was highly regarded by musicians, who believed that a piece not "overflowing with laboriously worked fugues" lacked artistic merit.
Composer Biography
Hans Leo Hassler, one of the composers on this album, was ennobled by Emperor Rudolph II in 1595, along with his brothers Jacob and Kaspar.
Composer Biography
Hans Leo Hassler, one of the composers on this album, created an "Automatophone," a self-playing organ that could perform complex pieces without human intervention, which led to a legal process against him.
Compositional Technique
Hans Leo Hassler's variations on "Ich gieng einmal spatieren" showcase an impressive array of variation types, including homophonic writing, virtuosic diminutions, and dance-form variations.
