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Andrea Falconieri
1585 - July 29, 1656
born in Naples, Italy, composed during the Baroque period
Biography
Renaissance-era composer Andrea Falconieri is generally regarded as a second-tier figure today, though his contribution to the realm of secular song and instrumental music was important. Falconieri (also Falconiero) was born in either 1585 or 1586 in Naples. Little is known for certain about his early years, though there is evidence he was raised in Parma under the care of the Duke of Parma. It also appears that his first serious music study was with composer/lutenist Santino Garsi.

Falconieri earned a living as a lutenist in Parma beginning in 1604, by which time he was probably dabbling in composition, though his earliest surviving works come from around 1610. It was in that year that Falconieri was appointed Court lutenist in Parma, assuming the post once held by Garsi (died 1604). Falconieri was quite active in composition during his years at the Parma Court, for in 1615 he mentioned in correspondence to the Duke of Mantua that he was readying certain compositions for publication. Falconieri abruptly departed Parma in 1614, probably for Mantua, not having satisfied all duties at Court for fees paid.

In 1616 Falconieri's first works appeared, a volume of villanellas. Before 1620, seven additional books of his works were published, six of songs (half of which are now lost) and one containing motets.