This Sunday at Trinity 

The composer of this morning’s prelude and anthem was Hans Leo Hassler (bapt. 26 October 1564; d. 8 June 1612). He was born into a family of organists in Nuremburg, Germany and received his initial musical instruction from his father. From 1584 to 1585 Hassler studied with Andrea Gabrielli in Venice and became acquainted with Zarlino, Merulo, and Giovanni Gabrielli. He held positions in Augsburg, Nuremburg, Ulm, and Dresden. Today’s prelude is one of 16 toccatas, which usually begin with a few measures of sustained chords. There are 110 keyboard works including 29 canzonas, 24 ricercars, 12 fugues, and an organ mass, where versets for organ alternated with the plainsong of the mass. Despite his outstanding reputation in his own time as an organist, the majority (and the best) of his works are choral, most with Latin texts. The earlier ones are for Catholic use, the later ones for Lutheran use.

The text of today’s anthem:

Cantate Domino canticum novum: cantate Domino omnis terra. Cantate Domino, et benedicite nomini ejus: annuntiate de die in diem salutare ejus. Annuntiate inter Gentes gloriam ejus, in omnibus populis mirabilia ejus. —Psalm 96:1-3 Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the whole earth. Sing to the Lord and bless his Name; proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations and his wonders among all peoples.