Charles-Amador Martin (7 March 1648 – 19 June 1711) was a priest, singer and composer of sacred music in New France. He was the second priest to be ordained in what is now Canada,Sir James MacPherson Le Moine. Quebec, Past and Present: A History of Quebec, 1608-1876. A. Coté & c,̊; 1876. p. 21–.Willy Amtmann. Music in Canada, 1600-1800. Habitex Books; 1975. p. 142, 290. the first being Germain Morin. He spent most of his priesthood in or near Quebec City, where he became known for his participation in church services as a musician.

Early life Martin was born in Quebec, the son of Abraham Martin, a river pilot in New France, and Marguerite Langlois.Jean B. A. Ferland. 1534–1663. De Gruyter; 5 November 2018. p. 202. He attended Jesuit College and trained as a priest at the Séminaire de Québec at a young age.Dix. Les Cahiers des Dix. 1969. p. 16, 30.

Career Martin was ordained by Bishop Laval in March 1671. His first posting was at Beauport in 1672.Jean Langevin. Notes sur les archives de Notre-Dame de Beauport. St. Michel et Darveau; 1860. p. 11.

Martin assisted with elections at the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec in 1673. He was a member of the Seminary of Foreign Missions at Quebec,Sessional Papers. C. H. Parmelee; 1906. p. 331. where he taught for a number of years and also acted as bursar for a period. His singing ability is mentioned by Father Jérôme Lalemant at one point in his career.

He was later a Canon of the Quebec Cathedral, where he was commissioned by Bishop François de Laval to raise the musical quality of the religious ceremonies.Daniel Mendoza de Arce. Music in North America and the West Indies from the Discovery to 1850: A Historical Survey. Scarecrow Press; 2006. . p. 9.

A number of musical compositions that have been attributed to Father Martin, including the first preserved Canadian musical composition, "Prose de Sacrae Familliae"; research has not found conclusive evidence that he is the composer.Elaine Keillor. Music in Canada: Capturing Landscape and Diversity. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP; 18 March 2008. . p. 66.National Library News. Vol. Volumes 18–19. National Library of Canada; 1986.

See also Music of Canada

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