BANCHIERI, ADRIANO

born Sept. 3, 1568, Bologna, Papal States died 1634, Bologna one of the principal composers of madrigal comedies, choral pieces that suggest plots and action to be imagined by the performers and listeners. He spent almost his whole life at the monastery of San Michele in Bosco, near Bologna, becoming abbot in 1620. Banchieri was second only to Orazio Vecchi as a composer of madrigal comedies, a genre much in fashion shortly before the rise of opera. His II festino nella sera del gioved grasso avanti cena (1608; modern English edition, The Animals Improvise Counterpoint, 1937) contains some delightful characterizations.