Francesco da Milano

Testagrosso taught Francesco how to play the lute. For much of his life, Francesco was in service to the popes in Rome including Leo X, Clement VII, Paul III. He even taught Paul's grandson and served for Cardinal Ippolito de' Medici. Highly admired by Paul III, the pope took Francesco on a journey to the important meeting with Charles V and Francis I. Of all the lute music that survived from this century, the greatest contribution comes from Francesco. Genres of his arrangements include fantasias, ricercares, and lute arrangements for motets, madrigals and chansons. Many later composers used the works of Franceso in parodies which is indicative of his international fame, the first Italian musician of the Renaissance to have this notoriety. ~ Keith Johnson