Jean Danican Philidor
Jean Danican (D'Anican) Philidor (c. 1620 – September 8, 1679) was a court musician at
Musical career
While he was perhaps best known for his virtuosic oboe playing, Jean Danican Philidor was a versatile member of the French musical court, also playing the
Chronology
- By 1645:
- Royal Service - Oboist in the Musketeers
- Member of the Grande Ecurie, a "branch of the royal musical establishment that supported military and other outdoor performances"[5]
- By 1654:
- Member of the "Cromornes et Trompettes Marines"
- By 1659:
- Member of "Fifres et Tambours", or the "Fife and Drum Corps" [5]
Composition
It is likely that Jean Danican Philidor was a composer of dance suites;[6] however, scholars are uncertain whether works signed "Philidor le père" are composed by Jean Danican, or his son André, who was also known as Philidor l'Ainé (Philidor the elder).[7]
Development of the oboe
Jean Danican and his brother Michel were among the first ever professional oboe players. Along with other prominent musical families at court, like the Chédevilles and the Hotteterres, they were responsible for the oboe's transformation from its Medieval form, the shawm, to the three-joint structure that remains in use today.[8]
Family
Jean Danican had two accomplished musical sons, André Danican Philidor (1647–1730) and Jacques Danican Philidor (1657–1708), known respectively as Philidor l'ainé (Philidor the elder) and Philidor le cadet (Philidor the younger). His grandson, François-André, son of Philidor the elder, was a renowned musician and chess player.
References
- ^ Thompson, Wendy. "Philidor" in The New Oxford Companion to Music. New York Oxford University Press; 1983.
- ^ Blom, Eric, "Danican, Michel" in The New Everyman Dictionary of Music. New York: Weidenfeld and Nicolson; 1988
- ^ Riemann, Hugo. "Philidor" in Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Music. Philadelphia: Theo Presser; 1899.
- ^ Slonimsky, Nicholas. "Philidor" in Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. New York: Schirmer Books; 2001.
- ^ a b Harris-Warrick, Rebecca. "Philidor" in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. MacMillan; 2001.
- ^ Patier, M.-Cl. "Philidor" in Dictionnaire de la Musique. Paris; 1970.
- ^ Harris-Warrick, Rebecca. "Philidor" in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. MacMillan; 2001.
- ^ Bate, Philip. "oboe" in The New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments. London: McMillan; 1984.