Adrian Willaert

An early madrigalist, Aldrian Willaert was a Flemish composer and pedagogue who composed a deep catalogue of sacred works, including, most notably, an abundant set of consequential motets. Thought to have been born around 1490 in Bruges, he studied law and music in Paris and published his first madrigals in 1536. He eventually moved to Venice, where he accepted the position of maestro di cappella at St. Mark's in 1527. He stayed at St. Mark's until his death in 1562 and had wide influence as a teacher and versatile composer.