Leone Leoni, born in Verona around 1560 and died in Vicenza on June 24, 1627, was an Italian composer.
From 1588, he was choirmaster at Vicenza Cathedral, succeeding Giammateo Asola, whose pupil and colleague he had been. He collaborated on the publication of Asola's anthology “Psalmodia vespertina,” which was dedicated to Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina and printed in Venice. Despite his growing fame, he tried in vain to gain entry to the court of the Archbishop of Salzburg or the Prince-Bishop of Trent, as these offices were considered more important than that of Vicenza, even though Vicenza enjoyed a lively musical life, especially in the second decade of the 17th century.
Between 1609 and 1612, he became a member of the Olympic Academy of Vicenza.
He was primarily active as a composer of sacred music and composed motets for choir, some for several voices with instrumental accompaniment. As cathedral music director, he also composed masses (including the Missa “Ab austro veniet” for 12 voices), psalms, Magnificats, and other liturgical music, some of which were published in the collection “Cantici sacri” (1608).
He also wrote madrigal compositions with sacred and secular themes.
Some books of his motets were printed under the title “Sacri fiori a Venezia.”
His students included Alba Tressina and probably also Ludovico Balbi. (According to Wikipedia)
