As a composer, keyboard player and poet, Valentini served in the courts of Sigismund III, Graz, as chamber organist, Vienna as one of the musicians of the court, Kapellmeister for the Hapsburg court and the Emperor Ferdinand III to whom he bequeathed all his music. Valentini was a virtuostic player who composed diverse works. Most of the music was sacred and written in the vein of the Counter-Reformation. The greatest musical achievement was Valentini's sacred works for seven choirs and fifty three part "Missa salisburgensis." These collections are notable as the largest pieces scored to date. With the exception of his experiments with changing meters -- 2/4 and 3/4 measures inserted in a dominant 6/4 signature -- and the aforementioned numerous part compositions, Valentini remained as conservative as the Viennese court. However, the Graz court was less conservative and Valentini attempted some trials with harmonies in his four and five part sonatas. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi