Cipriano de Rore
Rore is best known for his Italian madrigals, but he also wrote a lot of church music, including masses and motets.  He learned from studying the music of Josquin. His madrigals are based on the style of Willaert.  He enjoyed writing thick counterpoint and making the voices imitate one another a lot.  Most of the words he set were serious words, not lighthearted and amusing.  He often used chromaticism.  He developed his musical style a lot during his lifetime.  His music was very important in the development of the Italian madrigal, and it led the way to the madrigals of Monteverdi.