Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (his name derives from a town not far from Rome) was probably born in 1525 or 1526. After seven years as maestro di cappella at the cathedral of his native town, he went to Rome in 1551 at the summons of Pope Julius III to become chapel master of the Cappella Giulia at St Peter’s. He later became a singer at the Sistine Chapel, but was dismissed by Paul IV on account of his unacceptable married status. After other appointments, Palestrina returned to the Julian Chapel in 1571 as chapel master. He died in 1594.