Joannes Tollius

Tollius held an early post as a choir master in Amersfoort. In 1570 he traveled to Italy where he served at the Rieti Cathedral and later joined the Franciscan order. After leaving the order in 1585 he went to Rome. The Bishop of Padua granted him service in his chapel in 1589 and by 1601 Tollius was serving in Denmark in the chapel of Christian IV. The vocal music which he composed included both sacred and secular works noted for their innovative style perhaps even indicating a move towards the Baroque. ~ Keith Johnson