17th century Italian musician and nun Isabella Leonarda wrote at least 200 compositions, and was the first woman to compose sonatas for violin and basso continuo. In addition to composing more than 200 works. She was 16 when she entered the convent in her hometown of Novara, and she stayed there for the rest of her life — more than six decades. Today’s Beautiful Music is a 2017 performance by Ars Lyrica Houseton of Isabella Leonarda’s composition AD ARMA, O SPIRITUS. You can also learn more about Isabella Leonarda using the link below to her biography.