[Letter to Padre Giovanni Battista Martini?] - Ballabeni, Pietro Antonio fl. 1735; Martini, Giovanni Battista 1706-1784 (s.l., 1735)
Dated 2 April 1735 and sent from Prato, this letter is certainly addressed to Padre Martini, the Maestro di Capella of S. Francesco in Bologna, although the recipient's name has been removed from the address. The otherwise untraceable Frate Ballabeni informs Martini of the death of the Maestro di Capella [Giovanni Francesco] Beccatelli (1679-1735), which had occurred the day before, and asks him to forward this to the Maestro di Capella Bononcini. He offers his correspondent the deceased's musical manuscripts and his extensive library for sale. In the postscript Ballabeni asks the addressee to spread the word in Bologna that the position of Maestro di Capella in Prato is to be filled and that the salary for this position is 140 scudi. Mentioned in the letter, furthermore, are Giovanni Bononcini (long linked to Bologna, where has was a member of the Accademia Filarmonica) and Sicinio Pepoli (a Bolognese count who corresponded with Farinelli, among others).
Digitized by iGuana, Spring 2022
Ex libris Aloys Fuchs (manuscript)
Keywords: Beccatelli, Francesco -- 1679-1735; Bononcini, Giovanni -- 1670-1747; Pepoli, Sicinio -- Conte -- 1684-1750; 18th Century (1701-1800); Music history; Economy; Prato (Italy)