Giovanni Battista was born on April 24, 1706. His father, Antonio Maria Martini, a violinist, taught him the elements of music and the violin. Later he learned singing and harpsichord playing from Padre Pradieri, and counterpoint from Antonio Riccieri.
Having received his education in classics from the fathers of the oratory of San Filippo Neri, Giovanni Battista afterwards entered upon a noviciate at the Franciscan monastery at Lago, at the close of which he was received as a Minorite on the 11th of September 1722.
In 1725, though only nineteen years old, Giovanni Battista received the appointment of chapel-master in the Franciscan church at Bologna, where his compositions attracted attention.
Abt Vogler, however, makes reservations in his praise, condemning his philosophical principles as too much in sympathy with those of Fox, which had already been expressed by P. Vallotti.
His Elogio was published by Pietro della Valle at Bologna in the same year. The greater number of Martini's sacred compositions remain unprinted.
The Liceo of Bologna possesses the MSS of two oratorios and a requiem, with some other pieces of church music, are now in Vienna.
V. Mariae were published at Bologna in 1734, as also twelve Senate d'intavolatura; six Senate per Vorgano ed il cembalo in 1747; and Duetti da camera in 1763.
