MERULO, CLAUDIO

(8 April 1533, Correggio, Italy – 4 May 1604, Parma)

Appointedorganistat Brescia Cathedral on 21 October 1556, he then defeatedAndrea Gabrielito become second organist at St. Mark’s inVenice. He served the court of Parma, probably in 1584 and became organist at the cathedral in 1591, holding both posts until his death. Honored with knighthood and renowned as the greatest organist of his age, he left twoorgan masses, eight sets ofversets, one set of organricercars, two oftoccatas, three ofcanzonas, as well as a significant body of vocal music: four books ofmotetsand two ofmasses.