MONTEVERDE, Claudio, the originator of the Modern style of Composition, was born at Cremona in the year ; and, at a very early period, entered the service of the Duke of Mantua as a Violist; shewing, from the first, unmistakeable signs of a talent which gave good promise of future excellence, and which, before long, met with cordial recognition, not only at the Ducal Court, but from end to end of Europe.
The youthful Violist was instructed in counterpoint by the...