Leonhard Kleber

Who was Leonhard Kleber?

Leonhard Kleber was a German organist, and probably composer, of the Renaissance.

He was born in Göppingen. He graduated from Heidelberg University in 1512, and was probably a pupil of the famous blind organist and composer Arnolt Schlick around that time. He is known to have held three positions after his graduation: at Horb am Neckar, as organist and vicar-choral, in 1516 and 1517; at Esslingen am Neckar as organist until 1521; and at Pforzheim from 1521 on, where he was organist at the collegiate and parish church. During this period he had numerous organ students, and was evidently renowned as a teacher. He died at Pforzheim.

In 1524 Kleber produced his most famous work, a huge tablature containing 112 separate compositions, mostly by other composers. It was compiled between 1521 and 1524, and contains 332 pages; several hands are identifiable in the manuscript, though none have been identified. None of the music is attributed to its composer, although most has been identified; some of the anonymous pieces may be by Kleber himself.