Lasso, Orlando di (1532-1594), was a Flemish composer during the Renaissance. His name in Flemish was Roland de Lassus. Orlando di Lasso is the Italian version of his name. Lasso was one of the most productive and versatile composers of his time. He wrote about 500 unaccompanied choral works called motets, which are known for their dramatic and expressive qualities. His religious works include the Passion motet Tristis est anima mea and the Seven Penitential Psalms. His nonreligious music includes choral pieces with texts in French, German, Italian, and Flemish. They range from simple songs to large-scale works for multiple choirs.
Lasso was born in 1532 in Mons, in what is now Belgium. At the age of 12, he traveled to Italy and Sicily as a singer for the Viceroy of Sicily. In 1556, already known as a composer, Lasso settled in Munich, Germany, at the court of the Duke of Bavaria, becoming his music director in 1563. He died on June 14, 1594.
