Born: 1532
Birthplace: Mons, Hainaut in Belgium
Died: June 14, 1594 in Munich
Also known as: Roland de Lattre, Roland de Lassus, Orlandus de Lassus, Orlande di Lassus, Orlando di Lasso and Prince of Music
Type of Compositions: He composed church and secular voice music.
Influence: Cardinal Archbishop of Florence who helped him obtain the position of choirmaster at St. John Lateran
Musical Work: Over 70 mass settings, numerous motets and settings of the Passion. Some of his known pieces are Requiem for four voices, Missa Qual donna and Tristis est anima mea. He also wrote madrigals based on the Italian style, several German Lieder and approximately 150 French chansons.
Interesting Fact: When Lassus was almost nine years old, he became soprano in the choir of the church of St. Nicholas. Young Lassus was so talented and had a very beautiful voice that he was abducted three times.
