Mattheus Le Maistre

Mattheus Le Maistre or Matthaeus Le Maistre ( 1505–1577) was a Flemish Renaissance choirmaster and composer who is best known for his time in Dresden. His music was superior but in no way progressive, influential in both Counter-Reformation and Lutheran courts.

Biography

Early life and employment Born circa 1505 in Roclenge-sur-Geer, in the Prince-Bishopric of Liège yet he studied music from his early childhood Nothing is known regarding the identity of his musical instructors. It is speculated that, prior to his time in Munich, he worked in Leipzig because his name appears in music directories there. As such he was the first in a line of foreign musicians employed at the Bayerischer Hofkapelle. Here he introduced Propers for the weekdays. Additional perks of the position included one new uniform each year, plus free food upon the occasions of a court banquet. and although officially retired he retained the title of Kapellmeister and remained at the Saxon court until his death. It therefore follows that his writings have been described as both humanistic and pedagogic.

He was among the early composers to write chorales with the melody defined in the treble, writing in this manner as early as 1566. in spite of his later Protestant career. Currently it is his German songs, both sacred and secular, which are considered his most significant accomplishments. "Schöne und auserlesene deudsche und lateinische geistliche gesenge auss 2 St.” printed in 1577.