Leonhard Kleber
Encyclopedia
Leonhard Kleber was a German
organist
, and probably composer, of the Renaissance
.
He was born in Göppingen
. He graduated from Heidelberg University in 1512, and was probably a pupil of the famous blind organist and composer Arnolt Schlick
around that time. He is known to have held three positions after his graduation: at Horb am Neckar
, as organist and vicar-choral, in 1516 and 1517; at Esslingen am Neckar as organist until 1521; and at Pforzheim
from 1521 on, where he was organist at the collegiate and parish church. During this period he had numerous organ students, and was evidently renowned as a teacher. He died at Pforzheim.
In 1524 Kleber produced his most famous work, a huge tablature
containing 112 separate compositions, mostly by other composers. It was compiled between 1521 and 1524, and contains 332 pages; several hands are identifiable in the manuscript, though none have been identified. None of the music is attributed to its composer, although most has been identified; some of the anonymous pieces may be by Kleber himself. Composers represented in the tablature include Paul Hofhaimer
, Hayne van Ghizeghem
, Heinrich Isaac
, Josquin des Prez
, Jacob Obrecht
, Antoine Brumel
, Heinrich Finck
, Ludwig Senfl
, Hans Buchner
, as well as others. Many of the compositions were originally written for voices, especially those by the Franco-Flemish composers (for example Josquin, Isaac, Obrecht, Brumel); some of the music by German organists, such as Paul Hofhaimer
and Buchner, was probably written for organ, and hence is contained in the tablature in its original form.
This huge early Reformation
-era collection is one of the earliest large collections of organ music, and is unusual both for its size and inclusiveness, containing both sacred and secular music in arrangement.
Music of Germany
Forms of German-language music include Neue Deutsche Welle , Krautrock, Hamburger Schule, Volksmusik, Classical, German hip hop, trance, Schlager, Neue Deutsche Härte and diverse varieties of folk music, such as Waltz and Medieval metal....
organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
, and probably composer, of the Renaissance
Renaissance music
Renaissance music is European music written during the Renaissance. Defining the beginning of the musical era is difficult, given that its defining characteristics were adopted only gradually; musicologists have placed its beginnings from as early as 1300 to as late as the 1470s.Literally meaning...
.
He was born in Göppingen
Göppingen
Göppingen is a town in southern Germany, part of the Stuttgart Region of Baden-Württemberg. It is the capital of the district Göppingen. It is situated at the bottom of the Hohenstaufen mountain, in the valley of the river Fils....
. He graduated from Heidelberg University in 1512, and was probably a pupil of the famous blind organist and composer Arnolt Schlick
Arnolt Schlick
Arnolt Schlick was a German organist, lutenist and composer of the Renaissance. He is grouped among the composers known as the Colorists. He was most probably born in Heidelberg and by 1482 established himself as court organist for the Electoral Palatinate...
around that time. He is known to have held three positions after his graduation: at Horb am Neckar
Horb am Neckar
Horb am Neckar is a town in the southwest of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. It is located on the Neckar river, between Offenburg to the west and Tübingen to the east . It has around 25,000 inhabitants, of whom about 6,000 live in the main town of Horb, and the remainder in 18 associated...
, as organist and vicar-choral, in 1516 and 1517; at Esslingen am Neckar as organist until 1521; and at Pforzheim
Pforzheim
Pforzheim is a town of nearly 119,000 inhabitants in the state of Baden-Württemberg, southwest Germany at the gate to the Black Forest. It is world-famous for its jewelry and watch-making industry. Until 1565 it was the home to the Margraves of Baden. Because of that it gained the nickname...
from 1521 on, where he was organist at the collegiate and parish church. During this period he had numerous organ students, and was evidently renowned as a teacher. He died at Pforzheim.
In 1524 Kleber produced his most famous work, a huge tablature
Tablature
Tablature is a form of musical notation indicating instrument fingering rather than musical pitches....
containing 112 separate compositions, mostly by other composers. It was compiled between 1521 and 1524, and contains 332 pages; several hands are identifiable in the manuscript, though none have been identified. None of the music is attributed to its composer, although most has been identified; some of the anonymous pieces may be by Kleber himself. Composers represented in the tablature include Paul Hofhaimer
Paul Hofhaimer
Paul Hofhaimer was an Austrian organist and composer. He was particularly gifted at improvisation, and was regarded as the finest organist of his age by many writers, including Vadian and Paracelsus; in addition he was one of only two German-speaking composers of the time who had a reputation in...
, Hayne van Ghizeghem
Hayne van Ghizeghem
Hayne van Ghizeghem was a Franco-Flemish composer of the early Renaissance Burgundian School.While many of his works have survived, little is known about his life...
, Heinrich Isaac
Heinrich Isaac
Heinrich Isaac was a Franco-Flemish Renaissance composer of south Netherlandish origin. He wrote masses, motets, songs , and instrumental music. A significant contemporary of Josquin des Prez, Isaac influenced the development of music in Germany...
, Josquin des Prez
Josquin Des Prez
Josquin des Prez [Josquin Lebloitte dit Desprez] , often referred to simply as Josquin, was a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance...
, Jacob Obrecht
Jacob Obrecht
Jacob Obrecht was a Flemish composer of the Renaissance. He was the most famous composer of masses in Europe in the late 15th century, being eclipsed by only Josquin des Prez after his death.-Life:...
, Antoine Brumel
Antoine Brumel
Antoine Brumel was a French composer. He was one of the first renowned French members of the Franco-Flemish school of the Renaissance, and, after Josquin des Prez, was one of the most influential composers of his generation....
, Heinrich Finck
Heinrich Finck
Heinrich Finck was a German composer.He was probably born at Bamberg, but nothing is certainly known either of the place or date of his birth. Between 1492 and 1506 he was a musician in, and later possibly conductor of the court orchestra of successive kings of Poland at Warsaw...
, Ludwig Senfl
Ludwig Senfl
Ludwig Senfl was a Swiss composer of the Renaissance, active in Germany. He was the most famous pupil of Heinrich Isaac, was music director to the court of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, and was an influential figure in the development of the Franco-Flemish polyphonic style in...
, Hans Buchner
Hans Buchner
Hans Buchner was an important German organist and composer....
, as well as others. Many of the compositions were originally written for voices, especially those by the Franco-Flemish composers (for example Josquin, Isaac, Obrecht, Brumel); some of the music by German organists, such as Paul Hofhaimer
Paul Hofhaimer
Paul Hofhaimer was an Austrian organist and composer. He was particularly gifted at improvisation, and was regarded as the finest organist of his age by many writers, including Vadian and Paracelsus; in addition he was one of only two German-speaking composers of the time who had a reputation in...
and Buchner, was probably written for organ, and hence is contained in the tablature in its original form.
This huge early Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
-era collection is one of the earliest large collections of organ music, and is unusual both for its size and inclusiveness, containing both sacred and secular music in arrangement.