HASSE, JOHANNES ADOLPH. - Musician, b. at Bergedorf on 25 March 1699, d. at Venice on 16 Dec. 1783. After completing his studies at Hamburg, in 1721 he was engaged at the court theatre in Brunswig, for which he composed several operas. He then came to Italy and perfected himself at Naples in the school of Porpora and Scarlatti.
His first operas written in Italian enjoyed complete success. In 1727 he went to Venice, where he taught at the Conservatory. In 1734 he was at Dresden, then at Paris, Vienna, and Milan, and again at Vienna, where he settled permanently. About 80 are his operas, composed in the Italian style and rich in melody. Besides much sacred music—masses, hymns, and motets—he wrote 14 oratorios, true models of the genre for the clarity of their musical diction.