An Italian composer of sacred and secular vocal music and some instrumental keyboard, string, and wind ensemble pieces. Gabrieli's music is considered the epitome of the High Renaissance Venetian school. He was the perfecter of the impressive and lively ceremonial style of cori spezzati ("broken-up choirs or groups"), in which the musicians are located in widely separated spaces; he also wrote strangely chromatic motets about hell and damnation, promoted the music of Monteverdi, and influenced the young Heinrich Schütz. ~ Blue Gene Tyranny, All Music Guide