Luzzaschi, Luzzasco (c. 1545–1607)

Italian organist and composer. He wrote some sacred works, but his madrigals are his best-known compositions. His skilfully composed five-part madrigals were his most popular works; the later ones show an increased use of homophony.

Luzzaschi was a pupil of Cipriano de Rore at Ferrara and in 1561 became a singer at the Este court there. In 1564 he became court organist, and was also active as a composer and teacher; Girolamo Frescobaldi was one of his organ pupils. By 1570 he was directing the duke's chamber music, and by 1576 was his organist and maestro di cappella. He was also organist at Ferrara Cathedral and the Accademia della Morte. Here he composed madrigals for the celebrated ‘singing ladies’ of Ferrara, a group of virtuoso singers who performed for private audiences. His Madrigali per cantare, et sonare a 1–3 soprani (1601) contains some of these pieces with their fully notated keyboard accompaniments, which were long kept secret. From 1597 Luzzaschi served Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini, who controlled Ferrara when the city passed to the papacy.

Works motets, Sacrae cantiones; madrigals; organ music, and other pieces. His Madrigali per cantare et sonare (1601) are for three voices and have keyboard accompaniments.