Music of the Early Renaissance in Northern Italy (1480-1520)

Music in late 15th and early 16th century Italy developed at a faster pace than in most other parts of Europe such as Spain, England, France or Germany. A majority of the composers of that generation who settled in Italy were expatriates from northern France and the Netherlands. The evolution of modern print technology helped preserve and disseminate multiple copies of the great musical masterpieces across nations and continents. The earliest musical printing press was founded in Venice by Ottaviano Petrucci, but he and other Italian printers mainly published the works of foreigners like Josquin des Prez and Heinrich Isaac. Native composers such as Bartolomeo Tromboncino and Marchetto Cara were late-comers to the celebrity scene and never quite achieved the fame and esteem of their northern European counterparts.