Birthdays in Music Mar 1 Giovanni Francesco Milanta, Italian composer and organist, born in Parma Mar 8 Johann von Rist, German composer and poet known for his hymns, born in Ottensen, Holstein (d. 1667) Mar 12 Paul Gerhardt, German hymnist (d. 1676) Deaths in Music Mar 11 Giovanni Maria Nanino, Italian composer 1606 Music History by Year 1609