Martinez, Marianne 1744 - 1812

Author: Miyazaki, Takako
Last updated:March 12, 2018
Author: Miyazaki, Takako
Austrian composer, keyboardist, and singer. Born and active in Vienna during the reign of Maria Theresa. Her father was a former military officer of Spanish descent who, after his discharge, served as the highest official responsible for religious ceremonies of the Austrian state. Although Marianne, as a noblewoman, did not hold public office, prominent masters of the time showered her with praise for her compositions, performances, intellect, and character. She composed numerous vocal works, church music, and keyboard pieces, totaling over 200 compositions, though only about one-third of them survive.
Marianne appears to have had a very privileged childhood. The Großes Michaelerhaus, a five-story building where her family resided and which still stands on Kohlmarkt in Vienna, was then an apartment building where each floor was segregated by social class. The entire first floor was occupied by Princess Esterházy, the middle floors by cultural figures and the upper-middle class, and the upper floors by merchants and professional musicians. The Martinez family lived on the third floor; other residents included the court poet Metastasio, the composer and renowned vocal teacher Porpora, and the then-unknown Haydn in a small room on the top floor (currently, the first floor is a souvenir shop, the upper-middle floors are used as offices and residences, and a plaque on the exterior wall states 'Haydn lived here'). Metastasio, in particular, was very close to the family, dedicated himself to Marianne's education, and continued to support her throughout her life to ensure she received due recognition.
In such an environment, she rapidly distinguished herself, studying piano with Haydn, voice with Porpora (with Haydn serving as accompanist), and composition (especially counterpoint) with the court composer Bonno, whom even Mozart admired. She was also favored by Empress Maria Theresa, performing for her numerous times with her beautiful soprano voice and keyboard playing.
Between the ages of 16 and 24, she showed a particular interest in church music. Most of her surviving liturgical music, including four Masses, six motets, three litanies, and a Regina Coeli for choir and orchestra, were composed during this period.
Among these, her Mass No. 3 in C major, composed at age 17, was performed at St. Michael's Church and received great acclaim. At 29, she obtained membership in the Accademia Filarmonica of Bologna, a mark of a first-rate musician (this qualification was exceedingly difficult to acquire), which further indicates how highly she was regarded (incidentally, Mozart received this qualification exceptionally at age 14).
Her works are predominantly vocal, including seven chamber cantatas, numerous Italian arias, and the highly successful oratorio Isacco.
In her keyboard works, she is said to have composed 31 sonatas for keyboard, of which three survive: in E major, A major, and G major. Additionally, there are four concertos for keyboard.
In her later years, she hosted weekly musical soirées at her home, with Mozart being a regular attendee. It seems they often enjoyed performing together the sonatas for four hands, K. 497 and K. 521. She remained unmarried throughout her life, and in her later years, she established a singing school for girls, training excellent vocalists.