Birth, birthplace, and childhood.

Orlando De Lassus was born in 1532 in Mons, which today is known as Belgium.  Not much information on his childhood was recorded but we do know that as a child, Lassus was kidnapped three times for his beuatiful singing. He also traveled to many places such as Mantua, Sicily, and Milan.

Family background

In 1958, Orlando married Ragina Wackinger. Lassus and his wife had two children (both of which were sons). Both of his sons became composers as well.

Musical time period / kind of music he wrote

Orlando was a composer of the Renaissance. His compositions were known for their polyphonic style. He composed church and nonreligious voice music.

Influence

Orlando wrote over 2,000 vocal compositions in all Latin, Italian, French, and German. Out of these, there were 150 French chansons, 530 monets, and 90 German lieder. Instrumental music composed by Lassus is not known to have existed which is intersting considering instrumental music was becoming popular during the Renaissance.

10 compositions by Orlando de Lassus

•Alma Redemptoris Mater
•Cantiones duarum vocum
•Exaudi Deus orationem
•Benedictus
•Agnus Dei
•Jubilate Deo omnis terrra
•Laudate Dominum omnes gentes
•Laudent Deum cythara
•Ecce nunc benedicite
•Pater noster

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orlande_de_Lassus
http://www.classicalarchives.com/composer/2871.html
http://www.hoasm.org/IVK/Lassus.html