Heinrich Isaac - Biography
Heinrich Isaac celebrated Flemish composer of the early Renaissance was born circa 1450 in Flanders and died March 25th 1517. Issac origins and childhood are not known even his true name is lost to us. We don’t know how he was taught music but musical education in Flanders (Germanic portion of modern Belgium) was advanced. Isaac emerges as a historical figure by the early 1470’s and became a court composer in Innsbruck Austria in 1584.Isaac went to Florence the following year where he initially served as a singer at the court of the Medici’s. He probably became a teacher to the children of Lorenzo Medici. Upon the death of Lorenzo Medici in 1492 he was employed by his son Piero . The Medici’s had to temporarily flee the inquisition in 1494 which forced Isaac to freelance as a musician; also around this time he was to marry in what seems to be an arranged betrothal.
Isaac was to move to Vienna where he was to serve as court composer to Emperor Maximilan the 1st and it was here that Isaac was to do his most important work and gain fame. Isaac traveled though out Europe as part of Maxmilian’s retinue and was to spend substantial amounts of time in Florence and neighboring Ferrara. Maximilan became Holy Roman Emperor IN 1507 and Isaac was to write a grand Motet for the occasion. Isaac returned to Florence in 1514 and died there in 1517.
Isaac is particularly known for his many settings of the Mass ,over thirty of them have survived. He also composed a large number of Motets for many religious days of commemoration others for important secular events. He also compiled a huge series of Motets and Chants in a collection known as Choralis Continantinus. After his death his student Ludwig Senfl took over his duties in Maxmilian’s court.
Issac has not had as many as many recording as a composer of his stature should have and much of his work has been unrecorded. There are thought distinguished recording’s by the Tallis Scholars conducted by Peter Phillips and Nikolaus Harnoncourt on Vanguard and Archiv.
