Melchior Neusidler

(b Nuremberg, 1531; d Augsburg, 1590). German lutanist and composer, son of Hans Neusidler. From c 1552 he worked in Augsburg, visiting Italy (1565-6) and Innsbruck (1580-81), where he was briefly employed. His two lutebooks of 1566, in Italian tablature, contain arrangements of vocal works, dances and imitative ricercares; another (1574) includes comments on tuning. His brother Conrad (1541- c1604) was also a lutenist and composer.