A renowned master and violinist, born in Funchal, he took his first steps in music as a child, having, in 1851, received violin lessons from Agostino Robbio, a Genoese who performed concerts around the world and who claimed to have been a student of the virtuous Niccolò Paganini. Later, Martins also comes to play the machete, with great mastery.
While still young, he received wide praise from Platon Lvovitch Waxel (1844-1919), ariostocrat, diplomat, art historian and Russian singer, whose name is sometimes spelt Vaxel, Vacsel and Vakcel. During his stay in Madeira, between 1862 and 1870, he highlighted Agostinho Martins, among others, as one of the best musicians performing in Madeira.
Bearing in mind that Waxel was one of the pioneers of the Historiography of Music in Portugal in the 19th century, this recognition is particularly important.
Throughout his musical career, Agostinho Martins founded and directed several associations, including the “Sociedade de Concertos Funchalenses”, (Funchal Concert Society) (1871); the “Filarmónica Restauração de Portugal”, (Philharmonic Restoration of Portugal), (1882) which three years later changed its name to “Príncipe d'Oldenburg”, in honor of its patron, whom we referred to in our publication of May 9th this year, now known as the Ponta do Sol Municipal Band; the “Academia Marcos de Portugal, 1893” (Marcos Academy of Portugal), and in 1906, organized a Sextet with his name.
He also founded and directed the “Orquestra Característica Madeirense”, a Madeiran philharmonic band with traditional string instruments, which featured the renowned violinist Ernesto Machado and, curiously, also Vicente Gomes da Silva, Júnior, son of the founder of Photographia Vicente.
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Credits: Madeira Photography Museum - Atelier Vicente's.
PHOTO 1: Portrait of Agostinho Martins (photomontage in 4 different positions)
PHOTOGRAPHIA VICENTE | Reproduction (dated 1908) of a probable original by JOAQUIM AUGUSTO DE SOUSA | VIC / 32715
16.4 x 12 cm | Simple glass negative | Gelatin-silver print
PHOTO 2: Portrait of Agostinho Martins | Before 1905
JOAQUIM AUGUSTO DE SOUSA | JAS / 256
16.4 x 12 cm | Simple glass negative | Gelatin-silver print
PHOTO 3: Group portrait of the Madeiran Characteristic Orchestra. Agostinho Martins is standing, in the center of the first row. On his left, standing in the background, is Vicente Gomes da Silva Júnior, from Photographia Vicente | 1890-04-13
PHOTOGRAPHIA VICENTE | VIC / 28190
25.2 x 30.2 cm | Simple glass negative | Gelatin-silver print