GALILEI, VINCENZO

(ca. 1520-1591)

Though most famous as the father of the astronomer and physicistGalileo Galilei, Vincenzo was also a prominent musician, active mainly inFlorenceand noted as a composer, theorist, and performer on the lute. He became involved in a heated controversy with his own teacher,Gioseffo Zarlino, over the relation between contemporary music and ancient musical theory.