Giovanni Francesco Anerio was an influential Italian composer associated with the Roman School, active during the transition from the late Renaissance to the early Baroque periods. Born on July 7, 1569, in Rome, Italy, he was the younger brother of composer Felice Anerio. Giovanni's early musical education included serving as a choirboy at Cappella Giulia in St. Peter's under the tutelage of the renowned composer Palestrina from 1575 to 1579.

Anerio was deeply influenced by his religious inclinations, becoming associated with the Oratory of Filippo Neri around 1583, and was ordained a priest in 1616. His career in music saw him holding various prestigious positions, including organist at S Marcello in 1595 and maestro di cappella at the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano around 1600 to 1603. His first appointment outside Rome was at the Verona Cathedral in 1609, where he served until 1610 before returning to Rome.

In 1624, Anerio accepted the position of choirmaster at the Polish court of King Sigismund III in Warsaw, marking a significant period in his career. Poland, during this time, was a thriving center for music, attracting many foreign musicians, with Anerio being one of the most distinguished among them.

Giovanni Francesco Anerio is particularly noted for his progressive musical style. He was a prolific composer, contributing significantly to the early development of the oratorio with his work "Teatro armonico spirituale" in 1619, considered one of the earliest examples of the genre. His compositions included a wide range of sacred and secular music, such as motets, litanies, antiphons, psalms, madrigals, and instrumental pieces. Many of his works were published in Rome, though fewer are known from his time in Poland.

Anerio's style was innovative for his time, incorporating elements like monody in his madrigals and figured bass in his motets and masses. His use of polychoral techniques, while rooted in traditional practices, also displayed a forward-thinking approach.

Tragically, Anerio passed away on June 11, 1630, in Graz, Austria, while traveling back to Rome. He was buried there on June 12, 1630. Giovanni Francesco Anerio's contributions to music, particularly in the realm of sacred music and the oratorio, left a lasting impact on the development of Baroque music.