The Nani family's relationship with the musical life of Malta began with the violinist Angelo Nani (1751–1844) who was born in the Republic of Venice. While touring Malta as a concert violinist in 1766 he was appointed a chamber musician to the court of Manuel Pinto de Fonseca, the Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Angelo married a Maltese woman and remained in Malta for the rest of his life, later becoming the impresario of the Manoel Theatre in Valletta. Three of his sons, Emmanuele (1769–1860), Vincenzo (1775–c.1840), and Agostino (1782–1846) all became violinists and composers, the most prominent of whom was Emmanuele. Another son, Giuseppe, the 11th of Angelo's thirteen children, became a lawyer. However, Giuseppe's son Paolo (1814–1904) became a composer like his uncles.
