Bellerofonte Castaldi was born in Modena in 1581. He was not a professional musician, and led an adventurous life that involved much travel in Germany and Italy, after involvement in the death of the murderer of one of his brothers exiled him for some years from his native city. He was a noted collector of books, pictures and instruments, among other things, and was known to many as a poet. In 1622 he published a collection of pieces for theorbo solo or duet, many of them with fantastic titles or directions. The following year he published a collection of instrumental and vocal pieces, presented with vari innovations of his own.