Artist Info: Giovanni Coperario

John Coprario (c. 1570 – 1626), also known as Giovanni Coprario or Coperario, was an English composer and viol player.

According to later commentators such as John Playford and Roger North, he changed his name from either Cowper or Cooper to Coperario in the early 17th century (at least as early as February 1601), though he himself spelled his name "John Coprario". Anthony Wood said he changed his name after an extended visit to Italy, and though he is documented as having visited the Low Countries in 1603 [read more...]