Cover of J.H. Kapsberger’s
Libro I d’intavolatura di lauto (1611)
note “Nobile Alemano” and the Kapsberger coat of arms.

Johann Hieronymus Kapsberger (c.1580- 1651) , the son of a German colonel, found fame mostly as a performer on and composer for, plucked instruments such as lute and chitarrone.
It seems he grew up in Venice, but shortly after the appearance of his first publication (Libro primo d’intavolatura di chitarone) in 1604 he moved to Rome, where he spent the rest of his life.
In Rome Johann founded his own musical academy, and worked regularly with the leading poets of the city (he published at least fourteen books of secular songs, some with divisions). He seems to have been good at self-promotion — he regularly described himself as “Nobile Alemano” on his title pages, and even used a kind of logo for his name above the pieces; he was also successful at getting the patronage of influential people such as the Barberini family.
In 1615 he published his only collections of ensemble instrumental music,
the Libro Primo de Sinfonie and
the Libro Primo de Balli, Gagliardi et correnti a quattro voci.