Maessens, Pieter

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Maessens, Pieter

Maessens, Pieter, Flemish composer; b. Ghent, c. 1505; d. Vienna, Oct. 1563. He was a choirboy in the chapel of the Archduchess Margaret of Austria. Following univ. studies, he was active as a soldier of fortune with the armies of Charles V and the King of Spain. In 1529 he took part in the relief of Vienna, and in 1535 he was rewarded for bravery by the Emperor. In 1538 he served with the Spanish Army in Flanders. In 1539 he received minor orders in the priesthood in Tournai, and in 1540 he was made Kapellmeister of the chapter of Notre Dame in Courtrai. In 1543 he became 2nd Kapellmeister at the court chapel in Vienna, serving as its Kapellmeister from 1546. He was ennobled by Emperor Ferdinand I and took the name von Massenberg. Maessens composed much sacred and secular vocal music.

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire