Pinello di Ghirardi, Giovanni Battista

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Pinello di Ghirardi, Giovanni Battista

Pinello di Ghirardi, Giovanni Battista, Italian composer; b. Genoa, c. 1544; d. Prague, June 15, 1587. He was a tenor in the Landshut Hofkantorei in 1569–70. In 1571 he served as maestro di cappella at Vincenza Cathedral, and then was a tenor at the Innsbruck court chapel from 1576. In 1580 he was made Kapellmeister at the court of the Elector August of Saxony in Dresden, but in 1584 he was dismissed after the non-Italian musicians at the court succeeded in undermining his position. His 4 vols, of secular vocal music (1571–84) played a significant role in introducing the Italian vocal style to Germany. Among his other works were 3 vols, of sacred vocal music (1583–88).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire