(1520 - 1570) Little is known about the Italian lutenist and composer Giovanni Maria da Crema. He was born about 1520 and died about 1570. He was clearly a skilful performer, and as a composer was responsible also for transcriptions of chansons and other vocal compositions by distinguished contemporaries. He probably belonged to the circle of Francesco da Milano and may have been at the Mantuan court. His lute books of 1546 contain ricercars in both polyphonic and improvisatory style