MARC'ANTONIO INGEGNERI. — Musician, born in Verona, probably around 1545–47, died in Cremona in July 1592. Very scant are the biographical details. He completed his initial musical studies in the school of the Veronese cathedral under the guidance of Vincenzo Ruffo, who at that time was maestro di cappella; it is almost certain that he took part in the musical activities conducted by the Accademia Filarmonica. In 1572 he held the position of prefetto di musica at the Cremona cathedral, where he had probably moved as early as 1568; in December 1581 he was appointed maestro di cappella, a position he held until his death. He also gained renown as a violinist, and in addition to his activity as a composer, he is remembered as the teacher of the great Monteverdi. His musical output is quite substantial: in the sacred genre, a book of Masses for 5–8 voices and another for 5 voices, four books of Sacrae cantiones for 4, 5, 6, and 7–16 voices, two books of hymns for 4 voices, and the Responsoria Hebdomadae Sanctae; in the secular genre, eight books of madrigals for 4, 5, and 6 voices.
Ingegneri is stylistically close to the group of polyphonists of northern Italy (Ruffo, Asola, etc.), who distinguished themselves by a greater concision in the elaboration of the text of the Mass, in contrast to the masters of the Roman school, who were closer to the complex Flemish conception. His most celebrated and artistically notable sacred work is perhaps the aforementioned book of Holy Week responsories, which for a long time was attributed to Palestrina, but which modern critical examination has restored to its true author. His secular madrigals are also highly noteworthy, in which, through a particular clarity of structure, the expressive relationship between word and sound is very carefully cultivated.