Me: How early did you start studying music?
Sirmen: I started studying music at the age of seven. I became a musical student at the Ospedale dei Mendicati in my hometown of Venice, Italy. I was lucky to even be taught music since I was born out of a family of poverty. I was apart of the all female choir and orchestra. My teachers there were Baldassare Galuppi, Antonio Vivaldi, and Nicola Porpora. I didn't start studying violin 'til 1970 with Guiseppe Tartini in Padua. Tartini and I became really fond of each other. I was one of his best students. At this point in life my main focus was music.( Sirmen, 1775)
Me: How many other composers have you worked with when writing a piece?
Sirmen: I don't really have a legit answer. There are so many talented musical artists I have worked with. I have collaborated with the best from Bach to Mozart. I respect them all. A well educated guess would approximately be around thirty or so. I have learned a plethora of information and tips from each one. My best partnership would have to be my 6 concerts, per violin, orchestra (Amsterdam 1772), as op.3 (London, 1772); tras. T. Giordani for piano (London, 1773)
Me: What personal sacrifices did you have to go through to pursue your career?
Sirmen: I gave up my singing career when I was younger. I felt that playing and writing music was more constructive and less silly as I was getting older. Being a singer was not an option for me when I started to age. To me writing music was more mature for a woman my age. Plus, singing and touring is too difficult to in a short period of time. I was already known for my compositions than singing anyway. Later, I changed my mind. I gave up playing violin to become a soloist singer in concertos wrote by Bach.
Me: What made you decide that music was the right choice for you as a future career when you were younger?
Sirmen: I actually think that it chose me. It just came naturally to me as if I was born to perform. My teachers saw it as soon as I started. They didn't care if I was of underclass. They had saw potential. I was young and didn't have anything to look forward to until Tartini put a violin in my hands. From there it all just paid off wonderfully.
5. What was the highest point of your life that promoted your music the most?
Sirmen: When I toured with my husband in Paris and London. We performed in front of Wolfgang and his wife. That was truly an honorable moment of my music career. Not to long after the concert he wrote me a letter commenting on my music. He was highly impressed with my concerto. He insisted of me to keep writing music.
Me: How did your family think about your choice of work?
Sirmen: I was an orphan so family wasn't an issue. My music mentors were my family and they were my drive to keep going. Also, my husband is in the music business too so he completely understood my schedule. To avoid obstacles we waited to have children when we were both steady and settled down with our careers as busy musicians.
Me: Was there anybody special in your life that kept inspiring you to keep writing music?
Sirmen: Tartini was the biggest inspiration in my life. He was like a father to me. As well as a friend and mentor. He has been in my life since I started getting serious about music. He is the reason I'm well-known now. Another person I am grateful for is Wolfgang. He gave me great encouragement in his letters.
Me: Have you ever dedicated a song to someone?
Sirmen: No, I haven't. My music is strictly written to be enjoyed and to entertain. I acknowledge the orchestra and myself for the music that was composed and played. I can say I sometimes do find myself thinking of my husband at times while writing some pieces. Many times what my mother might have been like. Other than that dedication to others isn't necessary.
Me: Do you ever feel like your pieces are telling personal stories of your life?
Sirmen: Yes, of course. I really didn't have a life when I was younger. I dedicated the majority of my time in music studies. There were times when I wondered how life would be like as a normal child. Those were the sad harmonious measures of my works, symbolizing the missing stages of my life. Most
Me: If your music career didn't work out for you what could you see yourself doing today?
Sirmen: Well, while touring the countries I would sing at my concerts as another act. I started singing before studying the violin. I took violin more seriously at the time because I was strictly criticized by my teachers especially, Tartini. He continuously composed letters with suggestions of diverse fingering and bowing. After having Bach and other famous composers become fond of my music I didn't think they would take my singing career seriously so I gave it up quietly. Not only was I also a singer but a business woman in publishing.
