Maddalena Laura Sirmen
Encyclopedia
Maddalena Sirmen was an Italian
composer
, violin
ist, and later unsuccessful singer.
to poverty-stricken parents, noble by birth. She began her studies at an orphanage that also taught music in Venice
at the age of seven.
In her fourteen years of study at the orphanage, Sirmen was occasionally given permission to leave and study with the virtuoso violinist and composer Giuseppe Tartini
(1692–1770), in the hope that Sirmen would develop the technical and emotional capacity demanded of an ambitious woman. Hoping to play the violin professionally in a European classical scene almost entirely dominated by men, Tartini paid her own tuition for musical lessons at the orphanage.
At age twenty-one, Sirmen received her maestro
license at the orphanage, and was given permission to pursue a musical career outside of Venice. Sirmen soon married renowned violinist Ludovico Sirmen in 1767. The two began touring together that same year. Although little is documented about their relationship, it appears he encouraged Maddalena’s career, respecting her compositions and relishing in her successful solo career. Sirmen soon established her reputation as one of the finest and most famous violinists and composers ever taught in a Venetian orphanage.
An early critical notice she received as an adult performer was from Quirino Gasparini, who wrote:
Sirmen was perhaps an even more successful composer. The newlyweds performed in Paris
on Monday, 15 August 1768, performing a double violin concerto
which they co-wrote.
In 1771, Maddalena Sirmen debuted her “Concerto on the Violin” in London
, met by rave reviews and lavish support. Her compositions displayed the violin in all its virtuosic brilliance in the dynamic yet restrained early Classical tradition.
Sirmen visited London for a final time in 1772, performing as a vocalist and failing at that. Although her career withered and faded in its final years, she is remembered as a dynamic inventor and brilliant performer in 18th century classical music.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist, and later unsuccessful singer.
Biography
Sirmen was born in VeniceVenice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
to poverty-stricken parents, noble by birth. She began her studies at an orphanage that also taught music in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
at the age of seven.
In her fourteen years of study at the orphanage, Sirmen was occasionally given permission to leave and study with the virtuoso violinist and composer Giuseppe Tartini
Giuseppe Tartini
Giuseppe Tartini was an Italian baroque composer and violinist.-Biography:Tartini was born in Piran, a town on the peninsula of Istria, in the Republic of Venice to Gianantonio – native of Florence – and Caterina Zangrando, a descendant of one of the oldest aristocratic Piranian families.It...
(1692–1770), in the hope that Sirmen would develop the technical and emotional capacity demanded of an ambitious woman. Hoping to play the violin professionally in a European classical scene almost entirely dominated by men, Tartini paid her own tuition for musical lessons at the orphanage.
At age twenty-one, Sirmen received her maestro
Maestro
Maestro is a title of extreme respect given to a master musician. The term is most commonly used in the context of Western classical music and opera. This is associated with the ubiquitous use of Italian vocabulary for classical music terms...
license at the orphanage, and was given permission to pursue a musical career outside of Venice. Sirmen soon married renowned violinist Ludovico Sirmen in 1767. The two began touring together that same year. Although little is documented about their relationship, it appears he encouraged Maddalena’s career, respecting her compositions and relishing in her successful solo career. Sirmen soon established her reputation as one of the finest and most famous violinists and composers ever taught in a Venetian orphanage.
An early critical notice she received as an adult performer was from Quirino Gasparini, who wrote:
"She won the hearts of all the people of Turin with her playing . . . I wrote to old Tartini last Saturday telling him the good news. It will make him all the happier, since this student of his plays his violin compositions with such perfection that it is obvious she is his descendant".
Sirmen was perhaps an even more successful composer. The newlyweds performed in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
on Monday, 15 August 1768, performing a double violin concerto
Concerto
A concerto is a musical work usually composed in three parts or movements, in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra.The etymology is uncertain, but the word seems to have originated from the conjunction of the two Latin words...
which they co-wrote.
“The ‘Mercure de France’ speaks in glowing terms of M. and Mme Sirmen’s execution of a double violin concerto of their own composition."
In 1771, Maddalena Sirmen debuted her “Concerto on the Violin” in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, met by rave reviews and lavish support. Her compositions displayed the violin in all its virtuosic brilliance in the dynamic yet restrained early Classical tradition.
Sirmen visited London for a final time in 1772, performing as a vocalist and failing at that. Although her career withered and faded in its final years, she is remembered as a dynamic inventor and brilliant performer in 18th century classical music.
Works
- “Six Trios a deux violins et violoncello oblige”
- “Six Quartettes a deux violins, alto, et basse”
- “6 Duets for 2 violins, dedicated to the Duke of Gloucester”
- “6 Concertos for violin with accompaniment for oboe, 2 horns & strings”
- “Six Sonatas a deux violins”
- “Six Concertos adapted for the Harpsichord by Signor Giordani”