FRANCISCO SOTO. — Oratorian, b. at Osma (Spain) in 1536, d. at Rome in 1619.
On coming to Rome he displayed marked musical talent and was engaged as soprano of the Sistine Chapel in 1562. While attending the Oratory of St. Jerome he sought admission to the newly founded Congregation of the Oratory and was received in 1571; in 1575 he was ordained priest. Deeply pious, he devoted himself to spiritual direction, founded the first convent of Reformed Carmelite nuns and a girls' orphanage. As maestro of the Sistine Chapel, he was highly esteemed for his musical activity. He published the third book of Spiritual Lauds for three and four voices (1588); later he issued a fourth book, as well as minor compositions. Together with Annibale, he was the initiator of the musical tradition of the Roman Oratory of St. Philip.