One of the greatest Italian early opera composers, Marco da Gagliano was appointed master of the chapel in the Medici court, the position he held for a lifetime. An extremely prolific composer, Gagliano wrote masses, motets, madrigals, oratorios, operas and ballets. Gagliano founded Accademia degli Elevatis the first school dedicated entirely to music. Gagliano attracted many important Italian musicians to be associated with the Accademia: Fontanelli, Cavaccio, Benedetti, Caccini, Orlandi, Bonini and Allegri. Gagliano’s Musiche, published in 1615, was the first important collection of secular duets and trios of the time.