Luigi Nono (29 January 1924 – 8 May 1990) was an Italian avant-garde composer of classical music. He remains one of the most prominent composers of the 20th century. Born in Venice, Italy, Nono was a member of a wealthy artistic family, and his grandfather was a notable painter. Nono began music lessons with Gian Francesco Malipiero in 1941 at the Venice Conservatory where he acquired knowledge of the Renaissance madrigal tradition, amongst other styles.