Scipione Stella was a Neapolitan composer. He is to be distinguished from another member of the circle of Carlo Gesualdo

Carlo Gesualdo

Carlo Gesualdo, known as Gesualdo di Venosa or Gesualdo da Venosa , Prince of Venosa and Count of Conza, was an Italian nobleman, lutenist, composer, and murderer....

, Scipione Dentice

Scipione Dentice

Scipione Dentice was a Neapolitan keyboard composer. He is to be distinguished from his colleague and exact contemporary Scipione Stella , a member of Carlo Gesualdo's circle...

.

Stella studied at the Chiesa dell'Annunziata, Naples

Naples

Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...

, was organist 1583-1590, then in the service of Gesualdo, and finally to his death, having assumed the name Padre Pietro Paolo, a member of the Teatini

Theatines

The Theatines or the Congregation of Clerks Regular of the Divine Providence are a male religious order of the Catholic Church, with the post-nominal initials "C.R."-Foundation:...

 fathers at San Paolo Maggiore

San Paolo Maggiore

San Paolo Maggiore is a basilica church in Naples, southern Italy, and the burial place of Gaetano Thiene, known as Saint Cajetan, founder of the Order of Clerics Regular .-History:...

. Little of his keyboard music survives, and works attributed to him (instrumental works, motets and madrigali spirituali) are often done so in confusion with Scipione Dentice

Scipione Dentice

Scipione Dentice was a Neapolitan keyboard composer. He is to be distinguished from his colleague and exact contemporary Scipione Stella , a member of Carlo Gesualdo's circle...

. Stella's own collection of madrigals is lost.