Alexander Orologio was born in Italy between 1550 and 1560, but he seems to have spent his working life in German-speaking territory.  In 1580 he was a “Trommeter und Musicus” (interesting distinction) for the Emperor Rudolf in Prague, where he later became assistant Kappellmeister in 1603.  He worked briefly for the enthusiastic Moritz Landgraf of Hessen in 1594/5, and also spent some time as a cornett player in Dresden.