Giovanni Animuccia

Giovanni Animuccia

an eminent Italian composer of sacred music, was born at Florence in the last years of the 15th century. At the request of St. Philip Neri, he composed a number of Laudes, or hymns of praise, to be sung after sermon, out of which the oratorio was developed. In 1555 he was appointed maestro di cappella at St. Peter's, an office which he held until his death, in 1571. Many of his compositions are still preserved in MS. in the Vatican Library. His chief published works were Madrigali e Motetti a Quattro e Cinque Voci (Ven. 1548), and Il Primo Libro di Messa (Rom. 1567). See Encyclop. Brit. 9th ed. s.v.