Martini was born Johann Paul Aegidius Martin in
Freystadt,
Bavaria, as the son of the schoolmaster Andreas Martin and his wife Barbara. He was educated at the
Jesuit seminary in
Neuburg an der Donau and later started a study of philosophy in
Freiburg im Breisgau, which he quit unfinished. He temporarily adopted the code name "Schwarzendorf", presumably trying to cover his tracks for the fear of being urged to refund his education costs. He re-adopted his original family name in the Italianized form "Martini" after moving to
France. There, he established a successful career as a court musician. In 1764, he married Marguerite Camelot. Having directed concerts for Queen
Marie Antoinette, he adapted to the changing regimes throughout the
French Revolution, and later wrote music for
Napoleon's marriage as well as for the restored
Chapelle royale. His melodic opera ''L'amoureux de quinze ans'', written in 1771, enjoyed great success. In addition, his highly popular church music combined old forms with modern theatricality, and his chansons, including "Plaisir d'amour", were influential. In 1788, he paid 16.000
livres to become
surintendant de la musique du roi. He was designated to take office after his predecessor's death; however, the outbreak of the
French Revolution prevented this. Martini lost all his functions and took flight to
Lyon. In 1800, he became a professor of composition at the
Paris Conservatoire. In 1814, after the
Bourbon Restoration, Martini was finally appointed
surintendant de la musique du roi, the post that he had been promised more than 25 years earlier. His last composition was a requiem in honour of
Louis XVI, which he performed in the
Basilica of St Denis on 21 January 1816, the anniversary day of the monarch's execution. Martini died in
Paris in February 1816 at the age of 74. ==Selected list of works==