Francesco Canova da Milano (18 August 1497 – 2 January 1543) was a virtuoso Italian lutenist and composer of the Renaissance. Born in Monza, near Milan (hence the "da Milano"), he was heralded throughout Italy and Europe and was the foremost lute composer of his time. He left several books of music for the lute. It has been noted [1] that: "The basic facility with which he articulated the High Renaissance style for a single instrument continues to make his music uniquely valuable." From: Wikipedia.