The Italian lutenist and composer Alessandro Piccinini was born in Bologna
in 1566 to a family of musicians, all skilled lutenists. Summoned in 1582 to
the court of Mantua by Duke Guglielmo Gonzaga, the family moved, instead, to the court of the Este family at Ferrara, entering the service of Duke Alfonso
II. After the death of the latter in 1597 Alessandro Piccinini returned to Bologna, where he was employed by Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini. He left two volumes of lute music, the second published posthumously, and is credited with
various developments to instruments of the lute family.