Jean-François Dandrieu

Jean-François Dandrieu, though largely forgotten today, was thought to be among the finest composers of harpsichord music of his time, generally placed just underneath Couperin and Rameau. He also created much valuable chamber music, but only 1 rather insignificant piece for orchestra. If a composer’s result were worth greater interest — indeed, of the full-scale revival — it really is that of Dandrieu. Though his time of birth isn’t known, documentary proof areas it between Sept 11, 1681, and January 17, 1682. He originated from a well-to-do family members and showed uncommon musical skill in his early child years. Before the age group of 5, he gave a harpsichord concert for Princess Palatine Elisabeth-Charlotte of Bavaria and additional royalty. His 1st instructor was composer and key pad participant Jean-Baptiste Moreau. In July 1705, Dandrieu was officially set up as organist at St. Merry Chapel in Paris, a post he previously already held, in place, for any year-and-a-half and one he’d retain until his loss of life in 1738. By enough time he had guaranteed this enviable placement, he had been an achieved composer, having created music since his teenagers: he devoted a level of sonatas to Elisabeth-Charlotte when he was simply 14 years of age. In 1705 he created his first essential assortment of chamber functions, the Livre de sonates en trio, Op. 1. This, along with Livre de sonates, Op. 2, from 1710, divulges the composer’s uncanny contrapuntal abilities and overall art in the chamber music world. Several large selections of functions for harpsichord adopted in the time 1710-1720, including Pièces de clavecin courtes et faciles de quatre lots différents. Dandrieu frequently revised functions from these and additional collections: a number of the items from Opp. 1 and 2, for instance, would arrive as transcriptions in Livre de pièces d’orgue, finished right before his loss of life. In 1721 Dandrieu guaranteed his most exclusive post when he was set up among the organists in the royal chapel. Twelve years later on he added another organist post to both he already kept, when he been successful his uncle, organist at St. Barthelemy, upon the latter’s loss of life in 1733. Chances are that the occupied Dandrieu delegated a few of his responsibilities at St. Merry, and later on at St. Barthelemy to some other, maybe to his sister, who was simply also a talented key pad participant. Dandrieu, who hardly ever married, passed away on January 17, 1738.