Paul Hofhaimer

Although Hofhaimer was the most important organist of his time, few of his organ works survive. He served a number of courts but only needed to hold three positions. Learning to play the organ at the court of Emperor Frederick III, he was appointed the organist for life at the court of Duke Sigmund of Tyrol in Innsbruck. He did not have to forsake this posiiton when he was asked ot serve in the court of Maximilian I. Beatrice, Queen of Hungary attempted to attract him to her court but failed. On a number of occasions he made travels to the court of the Saxon Elctor Federick the Wise. Hofhaimer visited that court in 1494, 1498-99, and 1516. When Maximilian died he became the organist at Salzburg Cathedral in service to the Archbishop of Salzburg until his own death. Hofhaimer was one of the few Renaissance composers attracted to classical scholarship. Some of the pieces of his music that survive included odes attributed to Homer. Hofhaimer also set some of his own texts to music. The characteristics of his songs include polyphony with the melody being found in the tenor, bar structures, and chordal hamonics. "Recordarae" and a "Salve Regina" are surviving organ compositions that demonstatre Hofhaimer's ability to compose over a cantus firmus. He was a remarkable improvisor who varied the music to a considerable and cogent extent. ~ Keith Johnson