An important composer from the South Netherlands, Kerle held a number of positions in the Netherlands, Italy and Germany. He was an organist at Augsburg Cathedral, and served the emperor both in Vienna and Prague. While in Augsburg he was commissioned to write a "Precis Speciales" for the Council of Trent which he finished by 1562. The "Precis" were prayer settings with hopes of bringing about a peaceful end to religious wars aggravated by the split in the Church. Kerle combined responsories, a doxology and a Kyrie characterized with a sincere textual treatment and musical succinctness. In the context of this arrangement, Kerle effectively clarified the words being sung and greatly influenced the future of Church music: perhaps to a greater extent than Palestrina. Kerle visited Trent during the mid 1560s but did not take part in the deliberations of the Council. Having been excommunicated for a suit he moved to Rome with the intention of having his excommunication repealed. He again met Cardinal Otto, who commissioned the "Precis", and the Cardinal appointed him to a position at Augsburg. By 1574, with the retirement of Anton Span, Kerle moved on to the position of prebend at Cambrai from 1575 until 1587. By 1582 he was definitively in the Emperor's service in Vienna and in 1583, Prague. Along with the "Precis," Kerle composed numerous Magnificat settings much in the same manner as his hymns and psalms; polyphony was interrupted with short homophonic sections and counterpoint was closely arranged. The Magnificats, however, were much longer and more somber than the hymns and psalms. Kerle was one of the last composers from the Netherlands School having composed masses, liturgical music, fifteen volumes of motets, and numerous volumes of psalms. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi