Giovanni Animuccia - Early Life: Florence

Early Life: Florence

Animuccia was born in Florence, where, despite his prominence as a composer in Rome (where he died) he spent the first thirty years of his life. However, little is known about his training and work during this period. His first and second book of madrigals show similarities with, and may have been modelled on, the music of his slightly older contemporary Francesco Corteccia (court composer to Duke Cosimo I de' Medici). Animuccia and Corteccia were the only significant composers writing madrigals in Florence at the time and both composers published books of madrigals in 1547. Animuccia’s name is also mentioned in association with Florentine literary circles, suggesting that he was involved with cultural life in Florence. Animuccia's Second Book of Madrigals was published in 1551 after his arrival in Rome in 1550.