Giovanni Battista Califano is an obscure madrigalist of the last Italian Renaissance. He stood aside from the rapid change of musical style that took place during the presumed years of his life, and was even old-fashioned by the time he seems to have started composing.

He published a book of madrigals in Venice in 1784. One source said he was the organist of Venice's Church of S Nicola da Tolentino, which was built between 1591 and 1601, but another source published in 1601 lists him as dead.

Although his music sometimes shows an interesting use of imitation, for the most part it is unimaginative. © Joseph Stevenson, All Music Guide

Below are works by G.Califano that every music lover should explore: