Giovanni Gabrieli was an influential Italian composer and organist of the late Renaissance period, born around 1554 in Venice. He is best known for his innovative use of spatial effects in music, often employing multiple choirs and instruments to create rich, layered soundscapes. Gabrieli worked at the Basilica di San Marco, where he composed many of his most famous works. His compositions, including motets and instrumental pieces, were significant in the development of the Venetian school of music. Gabrieli's style laid the groundwork for the transition to the Baroque period, influencing later composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach and Claudio Monteverdi.