Ludwig Daser

A noted composer in his day, Daser has been largely overshadowed by Orlande de Lassus, who replaced him in Munich.

• Name — Ludwig Daser • Born — c. 1526 • Birthplace — Munich • Died — 27 March 1589 • Place of death — Stuttgart • Occupation — kapellmeister, composer • Spouse — Magdalena von Haffner

Daser was born in Munich near the year 1526, the son of fisherman Achacius Daser. At an early age he joined the Bavarian Hofkapelle in Munich. There he received formal education in theology and music, the latter as a pupil of Ludwig Senfl. An ordained priest, he entered the Bayerische Hofkapelle in 1550 alongside Mattheus Le Maistre. He became the Munich court choirmaster in 1552, replacing Andreas Zauner. Daser earned extra money as a music copyist while he held the Kapellmeister position. In addition to conducting and composing, Daser was responsible for training boys for the choir, and for hiring vocal and instrumental musicians for the chapel. His position afforded him a salary, food and clothing allowances, and monetary bonuses on various occasions, not limited to the New Year. Le Maistre's sudden departure from Munich in 1554 caused Daser to also assume duties as court composer. Although the court of Albert V, Duke of Bavaria was decidedly Catholic, Daser's predilection towards Protestantism was stated in his Missa Ave Marie, where in the Credo section he added a word to the confession of faith "Et in unum Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum", at the time a clear signal of intent. In 1556 Orlande de Lassus arrived at the Munich court. The universal acclaim accorded to de Lassus caused discomfiture for Daser, as his role as primary musician became supplanted by de Lassus. In the 1560s, Albert V began actively pursuing a course of establishing Catholicism at his court. There is some controversy surrounding Daser's activities between 1563 and 1572. Daser was subject to an Inquisition, and was shortly removed from his position of Kapellmeister in 1563 on grounds of "ill health". Iain Fenlon suggests that he was found to be "Lutheran", and that the "ill health" was a pretext upon which allowed the Duke to give Daser a retirement pension of considerate amount. Bernhold Schmid posits that Daser really did suffer from poor health for a period of time. In any case, he was replaced by Orlande de Lassus. Nevertheless, Daser's music continued to be performed at the Munich chapel under de Lassus. Daser moved to Stuttgart in 1572 and became kapellmeister there, openly converting as he found no resistance to his Lutheranism from the Duke of Württemberg. Daser's "retirement" pension from Bavaria was thus revoked. He remained Kapellmeister at Stuttgart for seventeen years. He died in Stuttgart on 27 March 1589. His son-in-law Balduin Hoyoul succeeded him as Kapellmeister in Stuttgart.

• Ave Maria • De virginibus • Dominicalis (i) • Dominicalis (ii) • Ecce nunc benedicite • Grace et vertu (attributed) • Mins liefkins braun augen • Paschalis • Per signum crucis (attributed) • Qui habitat • Un gay bergier

• Beati omnes • Dixerunt discipuli • Ferialis • Fors seulement • Jerusalem surge • In feriis quadragesimae • Inviolata • Maria Magdalena • Pater noster • Sexti modi

• Praeter rerum seriem

• De Sancto Spiritu infra septuagesima (4 voices) • De veneratione (4 voices) In addition to the masses, he composed a work for four voices entitled Patrocinium musices; passionis Domini nostri Jesus Christi historia, a Magnificat for four voices, a Magnificat for eight voices, 24 motets for four to eight voices, and 34 hymns and psalms in German.