One of the greatest Italian early opera composers, Marco da
Gagliano was appointed master of the chapel in the Medici court,
the position he held for a lifetime. An extremely prolific
composer, Gagliano wrote masses, motets, madrigals, oratorios,
operas and ballets. Gagliano founded Accademia degli Elevatis
the first school dedicated entirely to music. Gagliano attracted
many important Italian musicians to be associated with the
Accademia: Fontanelli, Cavaccio, Benedetti, Caccini, Orlandi,
Bonini and Allegri. Gagliano’s Musiche, published in 1615, was
the first important collection of secular duets and trios of the
time.