Born some time in the 1580s, Cifra sang in the Giulian Chapel choir before becoming maestro di cappella at the Roman Seminary, then at the German College there. In 1609 he moved to a similar position at Santa Casa in Loreto, where he remained for the rest of his life, although he seems to have participating in Roman music-making up until his death in 1629.
He published several books of motets and their rich scoring caught Brian's eye: having always loved music for three sopranos and continuo, here was repertoire for three altos, three tenors or three basses, four sopranos, or four altos, three sopranos AND three altos, four sopranos AND four basses – most are not hugely long, and were probably used as antiphons or psalm-substitutes at Vespers. His publications for that feast are more traditionally scored, but it is hoped to add at least one cycle of psalms to our catalogue in 2020.