Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, (1525-94). Italian composer of sacred music. He was born in the town of Palestrina, near Rome, and became organist and choir-master there at the age of 18. In 1551 he went to Rome, where he became choirmaster of the Julian Chapel. Towards the end of his life he published many unaccompanied choral compositions, including masses, motets, hymns, and madrigals.
