MARTINI, GIOVANNI BATTISTA Ital ian musician, was born at Bologna on April 24, 1706. He was received as a Minorite on September 1 1, 1722. In 1725 he became chapel-master in the Franciscan church at Bologna, where he opened a school of composition at which several cele brated musicians were trained. He consistently declared his pref erence for the traditions of the old Roman school of composition. Padre Martini was a zealous collector of musical literature, and possessed an extensive musical library which passed at his death to the Imperial library at Vienna, and the city of Bologna; Burney estimated the collection at 17,00o volumes. He died at Bologna on Aug. 4, 1784. His Elogio was published by Pietro della Valle at Bologna in the same year.
Martini's father, Antonio Mario Martini, a violinist, had taught him the elements of music, and he had later learned singing and harpsichord playing from Padre Pradieri and counterpoint from Antonio Riccieri. His education in classics he, received from the fathers of the oratory of San Filippo Neri. Most contemporary
musicians speak of Martini with admiration, and Mozart's father consulted him with regard to the talents of his son. Abt Vogler, however, makes reservations in his praise, condemning his philo sophical principles as too much in sympathy with those of Fox, which had already been expressed by P. Vallotti.
The Liceo of Bologna possesses the mss. of two oratorios ; and a requiem, with some other pieces of church music, are now in Vienna. Litaniae atque antiphonae finales B. V. Mariae were published at Bologna in 1734, as also twelve Sonate d'intavolatura; six Sonate per l'organo ed it cembalo in 1747 ; and Duetti da camera in 1763. Mar tini's most important works are his Storia della musica (Bologna, 1757-81) and his Saggio di contrapunto (Bologna, 1774-75). His cele brated canons, published in London, about 1800, edited by Pio Cianchettini, show him to have had a strong sense of musical humour.