A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Mattei, Stanislao

MATTEI, Stanislao, Abbate, pupil of Martini, and master of Rossini, born at Bologna Feb. 10, 1750. Though of humble parentage (his father was a locksmith) he was sent to the Latin school. Having been present accidentally at a service in the Minorite Convent, he was so enchanted with the music that he became a constant attendant, and thus attracted the notice of Padre Martini, by whose advice he entered upon his noviciate. Master and pupil became tenderly attached, and as soon as Mattei had been ordained he became the Padre's confessor, and remained with him till his death. He acted as Martini's deputy from 1770, and succeeded him as maestro di capella. From 1776 his compositions were produced in the service. On the suppression of the monasteries in 1798, he went to live with his aged mother, and began an active career as a teacher. From this time he was known as the Abbate Mattei. Later he became maestro di capella of San Petronio, and professor of counterpoint at the Liceo from, its foundation in 1804. Among his pupils were Rossini, Morlacchi, Donizetti, Perotti, Robuschi, Palmerini, Bertolotti, Tadolini, Tesei, and Pilotti, who succeeded him at San Petronio. He lived in complete retirement, accessible only to his pupils, and died May 17, 1825 [App. p.715 "May 12"]. He was president of the 'Filarmonici' in 1790 and 94, and was a member of the Subalpine Académie, and of the 'Institut de France' (Jan. 24, 1824). He had a thorough practical acquaintance with the old traditions, as may be seen by his 'Prattica d'accompagnamento sopra basi numerati,' 3 vols. (Bologna, 1829, 30), which consists mainly of well-chosen examples, with a few rules. In his explanations to his pupils he does not seem to have been very clear; at least Rossini complained to Fétis in 1841 that he had one stereotyped answer when asked to explain a rule in harmony or counterpoint, 'it is always written thus.' Of his music 3 masses only are generally known. The libraries of San Giorgio and the Minorite convent in Bologna, contain most of his compositions, but the scores of an intermezzo 'Il Librago' and of a 'Passion' performed in 1792, seem to have been lost. Full particulars of his life are given in the 'Vita di Stanislao Mattei' by Filippo Canuti (Bologna, 1829, with portrait).

[ F. G. ]