(Franciscus Landino, Magister Franciscus de Florentia, Francesco degli orghany, Magister Franciscus Cecus Horghanista de Florentia, Cechus de Florentia), important Italian composer; b. probably in Florence, c. 1325; d. there, Sept. 2, 1397. Francesco's father was the painter Jacopo Del Casentino (d. 1349), cofounder of Florence's guild of painters in 1339.

After being blinded by smallpox as a child, Francesco turned to music. He learned to play the ORGAN and other instruments and also sang. He became well known as an organist, organ builder, organ tuner, and instrument maker, and was also active as a poet. He was organist at the monastery of S. Trinita in 1361. He was cappellanus at the church of S. Lorenzo from 1365 until his death.

Francesco's output is particularly significant because it represents about one quarter of the surviving Italian 14th-century music. Some 154 works have been identified as his. These include 90 ballate for two voices, 42 for three voices, and eight in both two- and three-part versions; nine madrigali (of the Trecento, not RENAISSANCE type) for two or three voices; one French VIRELAI; and one CACCIA.