ABSTRACT
Marenzio's frequent contacts with the Gonzaga family in Mantua occurred over a considerable space of time. We have been able to find out little about the years he spent at Mantua in his youth, before transferring into the service of Cardinal Madruzzo. Duke Gugliemo Gonzaga had already charged a musician by the name of Antonio to make contact with Marenzio via Capello, a man who enjoyed Cardinale d'Este's confidence, but was also known to the duke for having earlier served at the Mantuan court. Palestrina's judgement can be interpreted as a means of consoling the duke of Mantua: since Marenzio was no longer available, there was all the more reason not to trouble looking for another musician. Probably the singer Antonio Rizzi, who, in Rome on 9 September 1581, tried to attract to the Mantuan court Giovanni Battista Jacomelli, a Brescian musician who was gifted on several instruments: see Fabbri, 'La vicenda umana e artistica di Gi.
