Anthony Bassano

The family of musicians Bassano who worked from the mid-16th century in the court orchestra of Henry VIII and certain the Italian influence on music in England for a long time, was the first generation of the sons of Jeronimo Bassano, an Italian instrumentalists and music instrument maker from Bassano del Grappa, in the province of Vicenza. Members of this family were first mentioned in a document in the archives of the Scuola di San Marco as instrumentalists of the court music of the Doge of Venice. They settled in 1540 in London. The brothers were born 1510-1520. Presumably they were Jewish converts who fled the influence of the Roman Catholic Church before the Inquisition.

Anthony Bassano

Anthony Bassano continued his father's tradition in England. He was ahead of the first of the brothers traveled to London. After negotiations with the Venetian agents of the king he took after his brothers. He had ten children, his five sons - Mark Anthony, Arthur, Edward, Andrea and Jeronimo - were also hired as a musician in the court chapel of Henry. His daughter Lucreece married the French musician Nicholas Lanier the Elder, the grandfather of the composer Nicholas Lanier. He died in the year 1574th

Jacomo Bassano

Jacomo Bassano followed his brothers to England, where he was also active as instrument makers and wine importer in addition to his service in the court orchestra. After his father's death he returned to his homeland. Presumably, he led his instrument workshop here on. He died in 1566 in Italy.

Alvise Bassano

Alvise Bassano seems to have already traveled several times before 1540 England, one of which in his youth as a bagpiper. He is mentioned in contemporary sources as Alvisy de Blasia, suggesting that he might have worked in the Venetian church of San Biasio as a musician. In 1528, he returned to Venice. Based on the documents received about him can be proved that he had stood from 1531 to 1536 with the brothers Jasper, John and Anthony ever been in the service of the king. Alvise died in 1554 in England. Of his descendants are at least two, his daughter Augustine and his son Lodovico, occupied as a musician.

Jasper Bassano

Jasper Bassano was one of the brothers who had already been 1531-1536 in England and employed in the court orchestra of Henry VIII. He died in 1577 in England.

John Bassano

John Bassano was also one of the four who had been in England 1531-1536. He died in 1570 there.

Baptista Bassano

Baptista Bassano toured England for the first time to 1537, a year after the return of his four brothers to Italy. He had with Margaret Johnson, with whom he seems to not have been married, the daughter Emilia Baptista, who later became the mistress of William Shakespeare and the mother of the flutist Henry Lanier was. He died in 1570 in England.