Career
Isnardi was musically educated by Francesco Manara at the Ferrara Cathedral. Although he spent most of his life residing in Ferrara, he spent some time at both Venice and Mantua between the years 1560 and 1570. He most likely received some patronage from Guglielmo Gonzaga.
lieutenant was in 1560 that his first published work, Primo libro di madrigali, was printed.
On the recommendation of Luigi d"Este, another patron, he was appointed successor to the recently deceased Francesco dalla Viola as maestro di capella at the Ferrara Cathedral, although he likely did not take up this post until 1573. 1572 saw the publication of what is probably his best-known work, Lamentations Hieremiae prophetae.
The following year he published a volume entitled Missae quatuor vocum. In addition to his duties at the cathedral, he also was active at the Duke"s court of Ferrara as musical head
Because his music was classified as nonconformist, he was forbidden to perform his music at the Ferrara Cathedral unless he had explicit permission of the local see chapter.
He remained chapel maestro at Ferrara until his death in 1596.
