Antoine Forqueray
Encyclopedia
Antoine Forqueray was a French composer
and virtuoso of the viola da gamba.
Forqueray, born in Paris, was the first in a line of composers who included his brother Michel (1681–1757) and his sons Jean-Baptiste
(1699–1782) and Nicolas Gilles (1703–1761). Forqueray was named musicien ordinaire of La chambre du Roy of Louis XIV
in 1689 and played at court. Until 1710, he was accompanied by his wife on the harpsichord
in his recitals. In 1730, he retired to Mantes-la-Jolie
, where he died in 1745.
His son published his works for the viola de gamba in 1747 (two years after his father's death) together with a version for harpsichord.
Marin Marais
and Antoine Forqueray were considered by their contemporaries as the two greatest virtuosi of the viola da gamba.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and virtuoso of the viola da gamba.
Forqueray, born in Paris, was the first in a line of composers who included his brother Michel (1681–1757) and his sons Jean-Baptiste
Jean-Baptiste Forqueray
Jean-Baptiste Forqueray , the son of Antoine Forqueray, was a player of the viol and a composer.Forqueray was born in Paris. He is most famous today for his 1747 publication of twenty-nine pieces for viol and continuo which he attributed to his father...
(1699–1782) and Nicolas Gilles (1703–1761). Forqueray was named musicien ordinaire of La chambre du Roy of Louis XIV
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
in 1689 and played at court. Until 1710, he was accompanied by his wife on the harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
in his recitals. In 1730, he retired to Mantes-la-Jolie
Mantes-la-Jolie
Mantes-la-Jolie is a commune based in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris from the center. Mantes-la-Jolie is a sub-prefecture department.-History:...
, where he died in 1745.
His son published his works for the viola de gamba in 1747 (two years after his father's death) together with a version for harpsichord.
Marin Marais
Marin Marais
Marin Marais was a French composer and viol player. He studied composition with Jean-Baptiste Lully, often conducting his operas, and with master of the bass viol Monsieur de Sainte-Colombe for 6 months. He was hired as a musician in 1676 to the royal court of Versailles...
and Antoine Forqueray were considered by their contemporaries as the two greatest virtuosi of the viola da gamba.