Giovanni Battista Martini

Born in Bologna, the son of a violinist, Giovanni Battista Martini (1706-84) took lessons from his father and priests at the Oratorio di San Filippo Neri before taking his vows as Franciscan.

His religious vocation, however, never stood in the way of his musical career. At age 19 he became organist and music director (maestro di cappella) at San Francesco, and in 1734, he published his first collection of music Litaniae atque antiphonae finales Beatae Virginis Mariae which he would later follow with three volumes of secular music, although most of his compositions remain unpublished. Most Suzuki violin students know his Gavotte in G Major

Affable and likeable, he was a popular teacher, an expert in advanced counterpoint and singing, especially plainchant. His reputation drew students (including the 14-year old Mozart and J.C. Bach) from far and wide, even if his music theories were somewhat reactionary for his day, refusing to countenance any of the progressive musical ideas then coming out of France. He also wrote two major books on music, a vast history of music (Storia della musica, 1757–1781, famous for its difficult 'puzzle canons') and the important Examples of Counterpoint (Esemplare di contrappunto, 1775).