A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Matteis, Nicola
MATTEIS, Nicola, an eminent Italian violinist, came to England about 1672. Nothing whatever is known of his antecedents. The earliest notice of him is found in Evelyn's Diary under date of Nov. 19, 1674: 'I heard that stupendous violin, Signer Nicholao (with other rare musicians), whom I never heard mortal man exceed on that instrument. He had a stroke so sweet, and made it speak like the voice of a man, and, when he pleased, like a concert of several instruments. He did wonders upon a note, and was an excellent composer. Here was also that rare lutanist, Dr. Wallgrave, but nothing approached the violin in Nicholao's hand. He played such ravishing things as astonished us all.' Roger North also (Memoirs of Musick), speaks very highly of his abilities. When he first came here he exhibited many singularities of conduct which he afterwards abandoned. He published here, without date, 'Arie, Preludij, Alemande, Sarabande, etc., per il Violino. Libro Primo. Altre Arie, etc., piu difficile e studiose per il Violino. Libro Secondo'; also 'Ayres for the Violin, to wit, Preludes, Fuges, Alemands, Sarabands, Courants, Gigues, Fancies, Divisions, and likewise other Passages, Introductions, and Fugues for Single and Double stops with divisions somewhat more artificial for the Emproving of the Hand upon the Basse-Viol or Harpsichord. The Third and Fourth Books.' He was likewise author of 'The False Consonances of Musick, or, Instructions for playing a true Base upon the Ouittarre, with Choice Examples and clear Directions to enable any man in a short time to play all Musicall Ayres. A great help likewise to those that would play exactly upon the Harpsichord, Lute, or Base- Viol, shewing the delicacy of all Accords, and how to apply them in their proper places. In four parts'—which even in North's time had become scarce, and is now excessively rare. In 1696 Matteis composed an Ode on St. Cecilia's day for the then annual celebration in London, and was also one of the stewards of a Cecilian celebration at Oxford. A song by him is included in a collection of 'Twelve New Songs,' published in 1699. According to North 'he fell into such credit and imployment that he took a great hous, and after the manner of his country lived luxuriously, which brought diseases upon him of which he dyed.' The date of his death is unknown. He is said to have been the inventor of the half-shift, but it is claimed also for others.
His son, Nicholas, was taught the violin by his father, and became an excellent player. He went to Germany and resided for some time at Vienna, but returned to England and settled at Shrewsbury as a teacher of languages, as well as of the violin, where Burney learned French and the violin of him. He died there about 1749.