Mattel, Abbate Stanislao

1750-1825

Favorite pupil and intimate of Giambattista Martini, the great theorist and musical savant; was born at Bologna. He attended the Latin school, and later, at the advice of Martini, entered into his novitiate at the Minorite Convent, becoming the confessor and constant companion of Padre Martini immediately after his ordination. From 1770 he acted as Martini's deputy, and after his death, in 1784, succeeded him as maestro di cappella at the Convent of the Franciscans. In 1798, on the suppression of the monasteries, Mattei lived with his mother and began to teach, later becoming maestro di cappella of San Petronio and teacher of counterpoint at the Liceo Filarmonico in 1804. Among his many distinguished pupils were Rossini, Donizetti, Perotti, Bertolotti and Robuschi. In 1790 and 1794 he was president of the Filarmonico, also member of the Subalpine Academic, and after 1824 of the Institut de France. Most of his works are preserved in the Libraries cf San Giorgio and the Minorite Convent at Bologna, and include his Prattica d'acompagnamento sopra bassi numerati, in three volumes; eight masses; an intermezzo; La Bottega de Libraio; and many offertories; psalms; hymns; motets and other church-music.