Heinrich Isaac facts for kids

This old picture shows a song by Heinrich Isaac. It was likely made in Florence in the 1480s. The "balls" in the title refer to the Medici family, who were his employers.

Heinrich Isaac (born around 1450 – died March 26, 1517) was an important Renaissance composer. He came from the Netherlands. Isaac wrote many different kinds of music. This included church music like masses and motets. He also wrote songs in French, German, and Italian. Plus, he created music for instruments.

Isaac was a major composer at the same time as Josquin des Prez. He greatly influenced how music grew in Germany. His name was spelled in many ways, like Ysaac or Arrigo il Tedesco. Tedesco means "German" or "Flemish" in Italian.

Early Life

We do not know much about Isaac's early life. We are not even sure what he called himself. But he was probably born in Flanders, likely in Brabant. In the late 1400s, music education in this area was excellent. So, he likely learned music in his home country. We just do not know the exact place.

A writer from the 1500s, Heinrich Glarean, said Isaac was German. But in his will, Isaac called himself "Hugo's son from Flanders." This shows he was proud of his Flemish roots.

His Career as a Composer

Heinrich Isaac's career lasted over 30 years. It took him far from his home in Flanders. He traveled to Germany, Italy, and Austria. He also visited other parts of central Europe. We do not have many old papers about his life. But by putting together what we do have, we can see how popular he was.

Isaac likely started writing music by the 1470s. The first paper mentioning him is from September 15, 1484. It shows he was a singer in Innsbruck for Duke Sigismund of Austria. The next year, Isaac moved to Florence, Italy. By July 1485, he was a singer at Santa Maria del Fiore church. He also sang at Santissima Annunziata until 1493.

Working for the Medici Family

Many papers show Isaac stayed a long time in Florence. He worked for Santa Maria del Fiore and Santissima Annunziata. It also seems he worked closely with Lorenzo de' Medici. Some people think Medici might have asked Isaac to come to Florence.

While in Florence (from 1484 to 1496), Isaac wrote many pieces. These included masses, motets, and popular songs. He wrote "A la battaglia" in 1487. This piece was to remember a battle between Genoa and Florence. Isaac's connection with Lorenzo de' Medici must have been strong. He even wrote music for a play by Medici himself. When Lorenzo died in 1492, Isaac wrote two motets to honor him.

Lorenzo's son, Piero, took over his musical groups. In September 1492, Piero took his musicians to Rome. They performed for the crowning of Pope Alexander VI. Isaac was one of the singers who got clothes for the trip. This means he likely sang for the Pope.

Family Life and New Travels

During his first time in Florence, Isaac met Piero Bello. Isaac married Piero's daughter, Bartolomea. We do not know the exact wedding date. But it seems Lorenzo de' Medici might have helped arrange it. Records show Piero Bello gave Isaac money for his daughter in 1495.

In November 1496, Isaac and his wife moved to Vienna. They started working for Emperor Maximilian I. Isaac was named court composer for Maximilian I on April 3, 1497. He worked for Maximilian until he died. But he did not stay in one place. Isaac traveled a lot around Europe. Papers show he went with the court to many cities. These included Torgau, Augsburg, and Nürnberg.

Later Years and Famous Works

In 1502, Isaac went back to Italy. He went to Florence to arrange for his health and food. He also started making payments to a group called Santa Barbara for help. On August 15, 1502, Isaac wrote his first will. It showed he was taking good care of his wife and property.

He then traveled to Ferrara. There, he wrote a motet called "La mi la sol la sol la mi" in just two days. He also competed with Josquin for a job. A famous letter compared the two composers. It said Isaac was "of a better disposition" and would write new works more often. It also said Josquin wrote better music, but only when he wanted to.

Between 1505 and 1512, Isaac was in Augsburg, Florence, and Constance. In Constance, he put together his biggest work. This was the Choralis Constantinus. This huge collection of church music was ordered by the Constance cathedral. Isaac and his student Ludwig Senfl finished it by 1509. Isaac and Bartolomea were likely back in Florence by then. The finished work had to be mailed to the cathedral.

On January 4, 1512, Isaac traded his house in Florence for a smaller one. This showed he was settling down. He and his wife likely stayed there until he died. Isaac also updated his will in November 1512. He asked for a mass to be said every year at Santissima Annunziata.

On May 30, 1514, he got an honorary job. This was as chief of music at Santa Maria del Fiore. It was like a retirement payment. Isaac also kept getting money from Emperor Maximilian I. In December 1515, Pope Leo X visited Florence. He almost certainly heard Isaac's music.

Before he died, Isaac wrote a final will. He changed his request to have a mass said every year for ten years. Isaac died on March 26, 1517. His funeral was held the next day. His wife, Bartolomea, lived for over 17 more years. She died on May 30, 1534.

His Compositions

Isaac was one of the most productive composers of his time. He wrote many different kinds of music. He used almost all the styles popular back then. Only Lassus, later in the 1500s, wrote a wider range of music.

Isaac's music included masses, motets, and songs. He wrote songs in French, German, and Italian. He also composed instrumental music. His most famous song might be "Innsbruck, ich muss dich lassen". He made at least two versions of it. The tune itself might not be by Isaac. But his arrangement of it is original. This same tune was later used for a famous hymn.

Isaac wrote 36 surviving settings of the ordinary of the mass. These are parts of the church service that stay the same. Many other single movements from masses also exist. But he became most famous for writing music for the Proper of the Mass. These are parts of the church service that change each day.

His huge collection of motets for the Mass Proper is called the Choralis Constantinus. He did not finish it before he died. But it would have provided music for 100 different days of the year. This collection is highly respected. It has over 450 motets based on old church chants. Isaac started it after a church in Konstanz, Germany, asked him to.

After Isaac and Emperor Maximilian died, Isaac's student Ludwig Senfl gathered all of Isaac's Proper settings. He put them in order for the church year. But the collection was not published until 1555. By then, some of the texts were no longer used. Still, these motets are some of the best examples of Renaissance church music.

Isaac also wrote a six-voice motet called Angeli Archangeli. It honored angels and saints. Another famous motet is Optime pastor. He wrote this for Pope Leo X when he became pope. This motet compares the Pope to a shepherd who can unite his flock.

While working for the Medici family, Isaac wrote a sad song. It was called Quis dabit capiti meo aquam (1492). He wrote it when Lorenzo de' Medici died.

His Influence

Isaac's influence was especially strong in Germany. This was because of his connection to the Habsburg court. He was the first major master of the polyphonic style from the Netherlands. He lived in German-speaking areas. And his music was spread widely there.

Through Isaac, the polyphonic style became very popular in Germany. This helped the development of contrapuntal music there. A later composer, Anton Webern, even got his Ph.D. by studying Isaac's Choralis Constantinus.

See also

In Spanish: Heinrich Isaac para niños

• Virgo Prudentissima (Heinrich Isaac)
• Innsbruck, ich muss dich lassen
• Choralis Constantinus
• Ludwig Senfl

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