Marianna Martines

Marianne Martinez was the daughter of Nicolo who was dubbed a knight by Maria Theresia; he had moved to Vienna in service to the papal nuncio. She was a student of Metastasio from whom she learend singing. She also learned composition and piano from Haydn and Porpora and counterpoint from Bonno. It is probable that she also received advice from Hasse while at the Austrian court. Her compositions were primarily vocal pieces and included masses, oratorios, cantatas, psalms and arias as well as non-vocal works -- two symphonies, and a few concertos and sonatas. In 1761 a mass which she composed was performed at St. Michael and in 1772 her singing was critiqued by Burney as not being plain but nor was it exceptional; Metastasio, however regarded her voice as a combination of the old and the new. Characteristically her musical compositions were melodic but harmonically simple and her playing style, heard even in her later years when playing one of Mozart's four-hand sonatas with the composer, was gay and lively. Though her creative talents were not considered exceptional Marianne Martinez was a stimulating musical force during her life and times. ~ Keith Johnson