Orlando di Lasso – Michael Jackson
Monument to the KING OF POP: Michael Jackson's memory in Munich
Michael Jackson's souvenir in Munich. The KING OF POP wasn't in Munich often, but when he stopped by for a concert, he stayed on Promenadeplatz in the Hotel Bayerischer Hof - the first hotel on the square
Munich. The heroes of music history and the double monument on Promenadeplatz in Munich: Music also needs its heroes, because the art of sound needs geniuses. While the bronze monument Di Lasso was erected specifically to honor a great musician in history who was important for Munich, Michael Jackson is only venerated at the base of this monument by his fans. A memorial site for an unforgettable musician in contemporary history.
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| Orlando di Lasso in bronze over the granite base with devotional items for Michael Jackson, Munich in front of the Hotel Bayerischer Hof, photo: Helga Waess |
All music was contemporary in its time
But: All music was contemporary in its time. This double monument in front of the Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich does justice to both:
- the KING OF CLASSICAL MUSIC of the 16th century Orlando di Lasso
- and the KING OF POP of the 20th/21st. Century Michael Jackson.
Since 2009, the base of the Orlando di Lasso monument in front of the Hotel Bayerischer Hof has been used as a so-called double monument in memory of Michael Jackson. The music titan of pop history died in 2009 at the age of 50. The monument on Promenadeplatz in Munich has since become a place of pilgrimage for Michael Jackson fans worldwide.
Double monument to two heroes of music history of their time
The monument to Orlando di Lasso originally stood on Odeonsplatz. The bronze statue was created by Ferdinand von Miller. Because the Ludwig I equestrian monument was erected, the Di Lasso monument had to be implemented. It has stood on Promenadeplatz since 1860. Destroyed during the war, this bronze reconstruction was re-erected in 1958. The bronze base is made of granite.
Since 2009, the granite base of the monument in front of the Hotel Bayerischer Hof has become a place of pilgrimage for Jackson fans. This is where you bring flowers, write letters, bring photos and newspaper clippings. Jackson's monument, which is exposed to wind and weather, is maintained privately - by his loyal fans.
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| Base of the Michael Jackson memorial in Munich in front of the Hotel Bayerischer Hof, photo: Helga Waess |
Michael Jackson at the Bayerischer Hof Hotel in Munich
We also remember a visit by Michel Jackson to the Hotel Bayerischer Hof. At that time we saw bunches of fans in front of the hotel on the green of the promenade square. They played his songs loudly. Press photographers were there and it was touching:
And then the moment: An almost hysterical shriek went through the crowd when suddenly a curtain on the second floor of the hotel moved slightly to the side. The window remained closed – unlike in the Adlon in Berlin. For a moment you could see a face covered with a black cloth. A hat. And a waving hand. "Michael! Michael!” screamed the crowd and some cried with joy that they were able to be so close to this gifted musician in pop history. They waved back and sang even louder.
Moving moments that those pilgrims at the base of the monument to Michael Jackson will certainly remember again and again.
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| Pedestal at the Di Orlando memorial with Michael Jackson memorabilia - Photo: Helga Waess |
No city tour without the Michael Jackson monument
If the Michael Jackson memorial were closed, Munich would be one less attraction. The Michael Jackson Memorial is a living place of pilgrimage. This is tolerated by the Ministry of Culture and the City of Munich as long as the base with Jackson pictures, flowers, texts and candles is maintained in wind and weather.
Now it's that time again and the dispute over the Michael Jackson Memorial seems to be escalating once again. Two camps are fighting over their idol:
- the Michael Jackson association MJ's Legacy with its chairwoman Nena Akhtar (Jackson Facebook page)
- and Michael Jackson fans who are not organized.
The latter also want to bring gifts and cannot find space for them, as the monument care is the responsibility of MJ's Lagacy. This means that there is enough free space on the shady side of the monument.
Now the Ministry of Culture is getting involved because the echo of the dispute has reached these ranks. If there is no peace between the parties, then the monument - which is merely tolerated at this point - should be removed.
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| Michael Jackson Memorial Pedestal from Hotel Bayerischer Hof seen from, photo: Helga Waess |
Orlando di Lasso a 16th century Michael Jackson
Instinctively, Michael Jackson fans seem to have chosen the Orlando di Lasso monument for their idol. It was on site. Where their hero of music history resided.
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| Orlando di Lasso bronze sculpture by Ferdinand von Miller the Elder J., Monument on the Promenadeplatz in Munich, Photo: Helga Waess |
But Orlando di Lasso was a 16th century Michael Jackson. He was as famous in Europe in his time as the King of Pop was worldwide in the 20th century
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| Inscription on the Orlando di Lasso monument base, framed by photographs of Michael Jackson, the fans glued to the granite. Photo: Helga Waess |
It says in capital letters on the base:
"BUILT
BY LUDWIG I
KING OF BAVARIA
MDCCCIL"
GERMAN:
Ludwig I, King of Bavaria, had the monument built in 1849 for the “tone poet” Roland de Lattre, known as Orlando di Lasso.
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| Inscription for Orlando di Lasso on the granite base of his monument. Photographs of Michael Jackson were stuck here by the pop king's fans. Photo: Helga Waess |
On the opposite side of the base there is the inscription for the King of Music of the 16th century:
CALLED
ORLANDO DI LASSO
SOUND POET"
Orlando di Lasso, also Orlande or Roland de Lanus, who was ennobled by the imperial letter of arms in 1570, was a composer. He was born in Mons, Hainaut, in 1530 or 1532 (here the sources are contradictory) and died in Munich in June 1594.
With this monument to Orlando di Lasso, King Ludwig I of Bavaria honored a gifted musical genius. A free spirit of music who always broke new ground and mastered all forms of musical practice. Sure, he composed masses and daily table music, German songs, French chansons, motets and madrigals. BUT: What also speaks for his unusual musical genius is the fact that he was included in collected works on music history during his lifetime.
The genius of music history: Orlando di Lasso
His listeners were “out of their minds” because of his passionate music. He ignored all guidelines of composition and rewrote the classical canon. He didn't care much about doctrine and introduced surprising moments of great impact. Sound or text effects created a sound that was “unclassical” for the hearing ability of the time.
No matter whether secular or sacred music, he created his works. For him, the reason for a composition is simply a reason to bring in his individual creativity.
He traveled to England, France and Antwerp. The first printed works of his compositions, which are kept in Venice, Antwerp and Rome, date from this time.
The year 1557 is crucial for Munich, because it was in this year that he was first recorded as a chapel tenor at the court of Albrecht V. In 1562/3 we became the bandmaster of the court orchestra. He travels a lot; is present at Maximilian's coronation in 1562 or travels to the emperor in Vienna in 1573 and so on.
An official of music!
Orlando di Lasso was showered with honors during his lifetime
- In 1570 he was raised to the hereditary nobility
- 1574 by Pope Gregory XIII. was the first musician ever to be named “Knight of the Golden Spur”.
- The Pope and Emperor presented him with gold
- King Charles IX of France gave him a high honorary pension and wanted to bring him to his court
- The Elector of Saxony was also interested in him as court music director for Dresden
- He received first prize for the best motet compositions at the composers' competition in 1575 and 1583
- Di Lasso stayed in Munich: in Bavaria he received a lifelong salary, essentially a music official
- From the beginning he is treated like a simple court councilor, even though he was only a musician
- the widow was provided with a pension
- the sons received a job guarantee
For Orlando di Lasso's biography see: Leuchtmann, Horst, "Lasso, Orlando di" in: Neue Deutsche Biographie 13 (1982), pp. 676-678
Michael Jackson and Orlando di Lasso revolutionized music history
Two super talents in music are honored in one place. Although the choice for the “King of Pop” was determined by the location. The memorial as a double monument was a good choice. Let's see: how much longer...
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| Di Lasso Jackson monument on Promenadeplatz in front of the Hotel Bayerischer Hof, Photo: Helga Waess |
