Orlando de Lassus is a composer who lived and worked during the Renaissance period. Little is known about his family and education, but we do know that he adopted Italian styles while serving patrons in Italy as a young man. He wrote many different genres of music, and even published books with his music while still in his twenties. In 1556, Lassus began to serve under Duke Albrecht V in Munich and eventually was given the role of choirmaster. Over the course of his life, Lassus wrote more than 2,000 pieces of music. He was known and respected across Europe.