A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Santini, Fortunato

SANTINI, Fortunato, the Abbé, a learned musician, born in Rome, July [App. p.780 "Jan. (on the authority of Riemann and Paloschi)"] 5, 1778, early lost his parents, and was brought up in an orphanage, but showed such talent for music that he was put to study with Jannaconi, and received into the Collegio Salviati. During his stay there (until 1798) he occupied himself in copying and scoring the church-music of the great masters, and after his ordination in 1801 devoted his whole life to music, copying, collating, and compiling with unwearied industry. As an ecclesiastic he had the entrée to many libraries and collections generally inaccessible, and set himself to the task of scoring all important works then existing only in parts. In 1820 he issued a catalogue (46 pp., 1000 Nos.) of his music, the MS. of which, containing more than the printed one, is in the collection of the writer.^[1] A MS. copy of a 'Catalogo della musica antica, sacra, e madrigalesca, che si trova in Roma via dell' anima no. 50 presso Fortunato Santini,' is in the Fétis collection, No. 5166. His learning, and practical knowledge of church-music, made his assistance invaluable to all engaged in musical research. He did much to make German music known in Italy, translating Rammler's 'Tod Jesu' into Italian, and helping the introduction of Graun's music. Mendelssohn writes ('Letters,' Rome, Nov. 2, 1830); 'The Abbé has long been on the look-out for me, hoping I should bring the score of Bach's 'Passion.' And again (Nov. 8), 'Santini is a delightful acquaintance; his library of old Italian music is most complete, and he gives or lends me anything and everything.' Then he tells how Santini is trying to get Bach's compositions performed at Naples, and goes on (Nov. 16), 'Old Santini continues to be courtesy personified; if some evening in company I praise anything, or say I do not know such and such a piece, the very next morning he comes knocking gently at my door with the identical piece folded up in his blue handkerchief. Then I go to him in the evenings, and we are really fond of each other.' In the well-known letter to Zelter, Mendelssohn says, 'He is anxious to make other German music known here, and is at this moment translating your motet, 'Der Mensch lebet,' and Bach's 'Singet dem Herrn,' into Latin, and 'Judas Maccabeus' into Italian. He is kindness itself, and a very charming old gentleman.… Just now his whole mind is absorbed in plans for making German music known in Italy.' Santini even composed pieces in five, six, and eight real parts, much praised by Fétis. The Singakademie of Berlin elected him an honorary member. On the death of his sister he sold his valuable collection, stipulating however for the use of it for life. He is no longer living, but the date of his death is not known. His library is in the episcopal palace at Münster in Westphalia. A pamphlet, 'L'Abbe' Santini et sa collection musicale a Rome' (Florence, 1854), giving a useful résumé of its contents, was published by a Russian amateur named Wladimir Stassoff.

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1. His address is there given Roma, Via Vittoria, No. 49, while in the Fétis collection it is Via dell' anima, No. 50.