Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi (May 15, 1567 (baptized) - November 29, 1643) was an Italian composer, instrumentalist, singer and Roman Catholic priest. Until the age of 40, Monteverdi worked primarily on madrigals (secular vocal music), composing a total of 9 books. He composed at least 18 operas, but only "L'Orfeo, Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria", "L'incoronazione di Poppea", and the famous aria, "Lamento" have survived. His first church music publication was the archaic Mass In illo tempore to which the Vesper Psalms of 1610 were added. His work, often regarded as revolutionary, marked the change from the Renaissance style of music to that of the Baroque period. He developed two styles of composition - the heritage of Renaissance polyphony and the new basso continuo technique of the Baroque. He is widely recognized as an inventive composer who enjoyed considerable fame in his lifetime. He died in 1643 at the age of 76.