Italian composer and violinist of Jewish descent. Served at the Mantuan court from 1587 to 1628 and was much respected by the Gonzagas, who exempted him from wearing the yellow badge Jews had to carry on their hats. His output includes four books of sonatas and dances for string ensemble, madrigals, canzonette, music for dramatic productions at Mantua and Jewish psalms. He was among the earliest composers to cultivate the trio sonata texture in his collections of 1607-8; he uses binary forms and movements featuring dance rhythms as well as ostinato basses.