Marie-Martin Marcel Marin

Born in Saint Jean-de-Luz in 1769 Marie-Martin Marcel Marin was a French harpist and composer. Marin studied the violin in Italy with Nardini, then the harp in Paris. At the age of 14 he was made a member of the Arcadian Academy in Rome. He was said to be without equal in skillful improvisations and full-score playing, as well as performing Bach fugues and other keyboard music on the harp. Among his friends and benefactors was Muzio Clementi. Marin published many works for the harp in Paris and London, including sonatas, variations on popular airs, duets, romances with harp accompaniment, a quintet for harp and string quartet and arrangements of works by Mozart and Beethoven. He also wrote a few chamber works for strings. He retired to, and later died in, Toulouse.