Michel Blavet
Encyclopedia
Michel Blavet was a French flute
virtuoso
born in Besançon, France. Although Blavet taught himself to play almost every instrument, he specialized in the bassoon
and the flute which he held to the left, the opposite of how most flutists hold theirs today.
, even when he played in difficult key
s, and for the beauty of his tone. Voltaire expressed his admiration for his playing and Marpurg spoke of him as a virtuoso of the highest excellence who preserved his innate modesty notwithstanding the unbroken popularity that he enjoyed.
By the time he was forty years old, Blavet had been the principal flute in both Louis XV
's personal musical ensemble, the "Musique du Roi", and the Paris Opera orchestra. Blavet turned down a post in Frederick the Great's court (which Quantz eventually accepted after the pay had been increased significantly).
and three books of sonatas. All of his works are written only in the easiest keys, since he wrote them for amateurs to play. They are unquestionably some of the most delightfully written chamber works ever composed for the flute. They exude happiness and are a delight to play. Quantz writes of Blavet " His amiable disposition and engaging manner gives rise to a lasting friendship between us and I am much indebted to him for his numerous acts of kindness".
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
virtuoso
Virtuoso
A virtuoso is an individual who possesses outstanding technical ability in the fine arts, at singing or playing a musical instrument. The plural form is either virtuosi or the Anglicisation, virtuosos, and the feminine form sometimes used is virtuosa...
born in Besançon, France. Although Blavet taught himself to play almost every instrument, he specialized in the bassoon
Bassoon
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers, and occasionally higher. Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band and chamber music literature...
and the flute which he held to the left, the opposite of how most flutists hold theirs today.
Life
The son of a wood turner, a profession which he followed for some time, he accidentally became the possessor of a flute and soon became the finest player in France. Blavet was famous for maintaining impeccable intonationIntonation (music)
Intonation, in music, is a musician's realization of pitch accuracy, or the pitch accuracy of a musical instrument. Intonation may be flat, sharp, or both, successively or simultaneously.-Interval, melody, and harmony:...
, even when he played in difficult key
Key (music)
In music theory, the term key is used in many different and sometimes contradictory ways. A common use is to speak of music as being "in" a specific key, such as in the key of C major or in the key of F-sharp. Sometimes the terms "major" or "minor" are appended, as in the key of A minor or in the...
s, and for the beauty of his tone. Voltaire expressed his admiration for his playing and Marpurg spoke of him as a virtuoso of the highest excellence who preserved his innate modesty notwithstanding the unbroken popularity that he enjoyed.
By the time he was forty years old, Blavet had been the principal flute in both Louis XV
Louis XV of France
Louis XV was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death. He succeeded his great-grandfather at the age of five, his first cousin Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, served as Regent of the kingdom until Louis's majority in 1723...
's personal musical ensemble, the "Musique du Roi", and the Paris Opera orchestra. Blavet turned down a post in Frederick the Great's court (which Quantz eventually accepted after the pay had been increased significantly).
Musical works
Blavet wrote primarily for the flute, in the so-called 'Italian' as well as the French style. His surviving works include a concertoConcerto
A concerto is a musical work usually composed in three parts or movements, in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra.The etymology is uncertain, but the word seems to have originated from the conjunction of the two Latin words...
and three books of sonatas. All of his works are written only in the easiest keys, since he wrote them for amateurs to play. They are unquestionably some of the most delightfully written chamber works ever composed for the flute. They exude happiness and are a delight to play. Quantz writes of Blavet " His amiable disposition and engaging manner gives rise to a lasting friendship between us and I am much indebted to him for his numerous acts of kindness".