Hassler: Ich gieng einmal spatieren - Keyboard works

Hassler, Hans Leo, Hässler, Johann Wilhelm

Berben, Léon

RAM 0501

Hans Leo and Jacob Hassler were born as sons of the organist Isaak Hassler in Nuremberg and received their first musical lessons from their father. They both went to Italy to study, from Hans Leo we know that in Venice he was a pupil of Andrea Gabrieli. After their return they were in the service of the Fuggers in Augsburg. Hans Leo later became Kapellmeister of the Saxon Elector Christian II in Dresden, and Jacob was appointed to the court orchestra of Emperor Rudolf II in Prague. This recording presents six of Jacob Hassler's surviving keyboard works as well as Hans Leo Hassler's Variations on Ich gieng einmal spatieren - an extraordinary work in every respect, which comes close in scope and complexity to Bach's Goldberg Variations. The Fuggers owned several harpsichords built by Franciscus Patavinus. They were splendidly furnished, artfully painted, decorated with ivory and gold and had a large clay. It is very likely that Hans Leo and Jacob Hassler played these instruments when they were in the service of the Fuggers in Augsburg. For this recording a harpsichord by Franciscus Patavinus was chosen, which has been in the possession of the Deutsches Museum in Munich since 1910 and which resembles one of the instruments listed in the inventory of the Fugger family to a great extent. It might even be the same instrument: According to the acquisition documents, the attachment board bore the signature "Francisci Patavini Dicti Ongaro, 1561". This makes it one of the few harpsichords preserved from the 16th century. The wonderful instrument is largely in its original condition.

CD x 1

Ramée

1/9/06

4250128505017