Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Manini, Antony
MANINI, ANTONY (1750–1786), violinist, belonged, it has been conjectured, to the Norfolk family of Mann, and italianised his name, as in the case of Coperario; but the register at Yarmouth, with which place he is associated, contains no notice of his birth, and an Italian composer named Manini was living in Rome in 1733 (Dict. of Musicians, 2nd edit. 1827).
Manini is first traceable in 1770, when at a performance for the benefit of 'Signior Manini,' the New Hall in Great Yarmouth, he played solos by Giardini and Chabran. He led the band in the same year at the opening of Christian's new Concert Room in Norwich, and performed at Beccles. In 1772 he was teaching 'ladies the Guittar and gentlemen the Violin' at Yarmouth.
In 1777 he appeared for the first time in Cambridge, as leading violinist at Miss Marshall's concert at St. John's College Hall, His programme containing music by Paradies, Boccherini, and Abel. In order to benefit by his instruction, Charles Hague [q. v.] settled in Cambridge in 1779. This and the following year Manini played first violin at Scarborough's annual concert at St. Ives, Huntingdonshire; while in 1780 two concerts, for his own benefit, were given in Trinity College Hall. In 1781 a similar concert was given in Emmanuel College, near where be was then living. In 1782 he was leading violinist at Peterborough, Huntingdon, and Stamford, and he received another benefit in the hall of Trinity College. In 1783 he was principal violinist at Mrs. Pratt's benefit concert in Caius College Hall; in Trinity Collt^e Hall for his own benefit, on which occasion 'Master Cramer' performed; and at Peterhouse for the benefit of Reinagle. In 1784 he started three subscription concerts on three successive days (July 1-3) in the halls of King's and St. John's; played first violin at Huntingdon, young Hague appearing in the vocal part; and later played there again for Leoni's benefit. He also gave Leoni a benefit concert in King's College Hall; Leoni and Hague singing, Hague and Manini playing the violin. In 1785, the year in which Madame Mara [q. v.] caused much stir at the Oxford Commemoration (Walderere, Sammlung musikal. Vorträge), she sang, for Manini's benefit, in the hall of Trinity College. In November, for the benefit of 'Master [William] Crotch' [q. v.], then aged ten, a concert was given in King's College Hall, at which the two future university professors (Crotch and Hague) sang, and Hague and Manini played. Manini also performed at the Earl of Sandwich's musical entertainments at Hinchingbrooke, dying at Huntingdon, soon after one of them, on 8 Jan. 1786. He was buried in the parish of St. Andrew's the Great in Cambridge. Manini shares some characteristics of his contemporary William Shield [q. v.] He was spoken of at his death in terms of the utmost praise, both as a musician and as a man.
The British Museum contains the only copy known of his 'Six Divertimentos for two Violins.' Each consists of two parts only.
[Norwich Mercury; Cambridge Chronicle; Earl of Sandwich's Hinchingbrooke MSS.]