Before the 1980s the identity of composer Antonio Zacara da Teramo was not clearly established, as his works appeared under a number of attributions, such as "Zacharie," "Zacar," "Zeltenpferd," "Zachara," "Zacchara," and yet others. Documents recovered since then prove that some 33 early fifteenth century musical works so-labeled were probably the work of one man, Antonio Zacara da Teramo, a Central Italian scribe and composer who served in the papal court in Rome between 1390 and 1408.

We first hear of Teramo in a 1390 agreement engaging him to teach music in Rome. By 1391 Teramo is shown as singing in the papal chapel, and would remain in this capacity until at least 1407. There is a miniature of Teramo in the Squarcialupi Codex, which portrays his unusual deformity—altogether he had only ten fingers and toes. But the lack of ten fingers did not prevent Teramo from becoming regarded as a "famous scribe and miniaturist" in his day. By 1412 Teramo had abandoned Pope Gregory XII and was serving in the Bologna-based court of the antipope John XXIII. Teramo's presence is last documented there on May 20, 1413. Legal documents prepared by his relations in 1416 describe Teramo as already dead and apparently rather wealthy—despite his defection, he owned extensive tracts of land in the province of Teramo and a house in Rome.

The works of Teramo are found mainly in the Squarcialupi and Mancini codices, with many pieces duplicated elsewhere and a few compositions unique in other sources. He was most famous for his Balletti, pop songs written in two or three parts on a variety of subjects, some containing political references that are difficult to comprehend today. Among the most popular of these were Rosetta che non canbi may colore and Un fior gentil m'apparse. Teramo also is known by a number of Gloria-Credo pairs that are seen as forerunners to Renaissance practice in Latin parody mass settings; Johannes Ciconia and Guillaume Dufay were probably familiar with them. Teramo's compositions are highly sophisticated and even "weird" at times. A work such as the ballata Sumite, karissimi, capud de Remulo, patres would be right at home within the context of Ars subtilior. But he is not known to have had any contact with anti-papal court at Avignon. © Uncle Dave Lewis, All Music Guide

Below are works by A.Zacara da Teramo that every music lover should explore: