Claudio Saracini
b Siena, July 1586; d Mirandola, Sept 1630Saracini is an outstanding example of the cultivated nobleman who had no need to fear comparison with professionals in practising his chosen art. Given the size, range and quality of his output, he may be ranked with Sigismondo d'lndia as one of the two finest composers of monody in Italy in the heyday of the genre in the early 17th century.