Cristofano Malvezzi

Cristofano ( Cristoforo ) Malvezzi ( born June 28, 1547 Lucca, † January 22, 1599 in Florence ) was an Italian organist and composer of the Renaissance.

Cristofano Malvezzi the son of the organist and organ builder Niccoló Malvezzi probably received his musical training from his father. It was in 1562 Canonico soprannumerario and 1572 regular canons of San Lorenzo in Florence. He worked from 1571 in the successor of Francesco and Giovanni Piero Corteccia Manenti as Kapellmeister at the Baptistery of San Giovanni, which was under the musical management of the de Medici family. 1574 he took over his father's position as organist at San Lorenzo. From 1586 he was also employed at the Medici court for the composition of inter- media. Like his father and later his brother, he was buried in the church of San Lorenzo.

In addition to some madrigals and other works he created the so-called Inter Media (musical interludes for drama performances) early preforms the opera and a book of four-part Ricercari ( Il primo libro de Ricercari, Perugia 1577).

His brother Alberigo Malvezzi (1554-1615) was also an organist and composer.