Leonhard Lechner

Leonhard Lechner (also Leonard, c. 1553 – 9 September 1606) was a German composer, kapellmeister, tenor and music editor who was taught by Orlando de Lassus.

He was regarded as Lassus' "most distinguished pupil and a great creative force in German music".

[2] He led an association of upper-class music lovers, Ehrbare musikalische Gesellschaft, which sponsored the publication of religious and secular works.

As the count supported the Counter-Reformation, Lechner left his employment after one year due to their religious differences.

His swan song was Deutsche Sprüche von Leben und Tod (German sentences of life and death).

[5] The Larousse Encyclopedia Of Music stated, "His music is remarkable for its dramatic power and emotional intensity, qualities particularly evident in the fifteen Deutsche Sprüche von Leben und Tod, which reveal his sure command of techniques ranging from fluent polyphony to chordal writing.