Nicolaus Hasse

Nicolaus Hasse is a German organist and composer. Four organ compositions by him are found in the Pelplin Tablatures. He is considered a member of the North-German Organ School.

Biography

Nicolaus began music studies with his father Peter Hasse. He was the organist at Marienkirche, Rostock from 1642-1671.

Analysis

Hasse's four works have been interpreted (by David Nichols) as representing the development of the North-German chorale fantasia itself. The piece representing the earliest such development is Jesus Christus unser Heiland, a piece in three parts in which the cantus firmus is un-ornamented and placed against a very classical contrapuntal texture. Slightly more developed is Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr which has imitation in the accompanying voices and some ornamentation in the cantus firmus in the soprano. In a second setting of Jesus Christus unser Heiland for two manuals and pedal, Hasse introduces motivic imitation and echo passages, and Ornamentation is used to an even greater extent (Nichols). Finally, Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott is his most progressive piece in the development of the chorale fantasia, in which ornamentation is found in all voices and increased imitative counterpoint and motivic interplay (idem) is introduced.

Works

Organ works by Nicolaus Hasse

Source	Title	Incipit	Notes	Ref.
Pelplin Tablatures vol.2	Allein Gott in d Höh sei Ehr Nic Hasse
Pelplin Tablatures vol.2 fol.IV	Jesus Christus unser Heiland Nic Hasse	1 Versus Pleno 2 Versus Choral in Tenor 3 Versus Choral in Bass
Pelplin Tablatures vol.3 fol.I-VIII	Komm Heiliger Geist Herre Gott auf 2 Clav. N H
Pelplin Tablatures vol.3 fol.116	Jesus Christus pro 3 Clav. Nic Hasse

References

Nichols, David J. "Hasse, Nikolaus." Grove Music Online, 2001. [1], accessed 2 September, 2023.