Picchi was an Italian organist, lutenist and composer. He served as organist at Ca Grande, Venice between 1615 and 1625 and also served at Scuola di San Rocco, Venice in 1623. Most of his early compositions included an improvisatory toccata and a series of unusual dances that do not seem to have met public acclaim. His keyboard works are characterized by simple accompaniments that employ the full hand and right hand melodic lines that occasionally flourish and, form cadential chords. Picchi also employed the use of a simple counterpoint for his keyboard pieces. Though his first collection did not seem to be marketable other keyboard works can be described as adequate for the popular demands of the time for the works were facile for the amateur and, thus, accessible for the home. Picchi also wrote instrumental canzoni which combined winds and strings including pieces for two violins or cornetts, violin or cornett with bassoon, trombone with violin, or two violins or horns. ~ Keith Johnson