Hassler' first teacher was his father followed by lessons with Lechner, who was a puil of Lassus. He continued his education in Venice where he was taught by Andrea Gabrieli and a contemporary of Giovanni Gabrieli. Hassler probably also knew Baldassere Donato as he adopted Donato's canzonetta style. By 1586 Hassler obtained the position of chamber organist in the Fugger court and through these connections met Michael Praetorious in 1596. Hassler's fame began to spread at the end of the century and he was sought out and able to make contacts. Through these connections, and his won abilities, Hassler obtained appointments in Augsburg, in Nuremberg with the Emperor Rudolf II, and at Frankfort am Main for the Emperor Matthias: later in Dresden as th Emperor's Kappelmeister. The renown with which Hassler grew was not through new techniques or musical enterprises but rather for his bringing together and fully developing the traditional forms of expression. His Latin works are considered to be among the finest such compositions of their time reflecting the influence of Lassus and other Venetian composers. Hassler is considered to have had a flair for past forms almost to the point of anachronism. Numerous compositions both of Latin and German sacred music were a credit to Hassler's abilities as was the fine craftsmanship with which he thoroughly demonstrated current styles. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi