Biography
The precise origins of Heinrich Isaac remain a matter of scholarly disagreement. Although his birthplace lay in Brabant, he is frequently identified with East Flanders as well. The bulk of his professional activity and compositional output unfolded in Italy, with the notable exception of his time in Austria. Beginning in 1484 he entered the household of Lorenzo de'Medici, serving until 1492 in the combined capacities of organist, choirmaster, and instructor to the Medici children. A journey to Rome took place in 1489. In 1497 he joined the retinue of Emperor Maximilian as court composer at Innsbruck. Frequent journeys between Italy and Austria ensued, encompassing stays in Florence and at the Farnese court. By 1514 he had successfully petitioned the Emperor for permanent release, enabling his return to Florence, where he spent his remaining years. Regarded as the earliest German master of counterpoint, Isaac applied this technique across every musical genre then cultivated, encompassing both sacred and secular spheres. His catalog embraced German, French, Italian, and Latin songs, carnival songs, fifty-eight instrumental pieces, and at least twenty examples of domestic music. The collection Choralis Constantinus supplied fifty-eight offices for the liturgy, covering the complete church year. In addition he produced twenty-three masses, forty-nine motets, and numerous psalms, introits, and related compositions.