Paolo Virchi

Paolo Virchi (also known as Targhetta; 1551 – 2 May 1610) was an Italian composer and instrumentalist. He was born in Brescia, and his father was Girolamo Virchi, an instrument maker. He joined the court of Alfonso II d'Este between 1579 and 1580. On the court rolls he is referred to as a singer, but in his publications he refers to himself as an organist and instrumentalist. He taught members of the court to sing, play the viol, and was one of few musicians at the court to receive a raise in salary during his tenure there. At the dissolution of the court in 1597, he immediately joined the Gonzaga court in Mantua.
Virchi had several publications, all in Venice, including a book of cittern tablature, and many madrigals, which Anthony Newcomb praises as being of equal skill as those of Luca Marenzio.

• Il Primo Libro di Tabolatura di Citthara, 1574, Venice: Girolamo Scotto. Contains music for 6 and 7 course chromatic cittern written using Italian tablature. Italian tuning is indicated for the instruments in the book (which also contains some songs).