Born in 1688 in Prato, Domenico Zipoli studied the organ in Florence, before briefly taking lessons from Alessandro Scarlatti in Naples, Vannucci in Bologna and, finally, Pasquini in Rome, where he became organist at the Jesuit church. In 1716 he joined the Society of Jesus and the following year left for the Jesuit mission in Paraguay. He completed the requirements of his novitiate at Córdoba, in Argentina, but died in 1726 before he could be ordained. In Europe his reputation rested on his harpsichord and organ music, but he was able to make a significant contribution to sacred music in South America.