Leclair’s father was a lace making master and a cellist. All of his 3 brothers are from musicians. He studied not only music but also dancing and lace making when he was young. And he was excelling in all of these three areas.
He began his career as a dancer at the Lyons Opera. About 1722, he went to Turin where he was active as a ballet master. Because of the experience as a dancer and choreographer at the Turin Opera, he combined together dance-measures, his beautiful melodies and the technique of violin into his composition.
During his visit to Paris in 1723 to arrange for a publication of his op.1, he acquired a wealthy patron in Joseph Bonnier. Returning to Turin, he wrote ballets for the Teatro Regio Ducale.
After learning violin from Italy under Giovani Battista Somis who is a student of Corelli, Leclair was the first to bring back Italian Baroque style and incorporate into French Baroque concertos to the finest flowering which flourishes with greater demand from the public. To effect this synthesis, he combined elements of Lullian dance and French harpsichord and bass viol pieces with Italian sonata style.
After his first debut at the Concert Spirituel in Paris in 1728, he gained overnight fame and recognition and was invited to perform 11 times within the same year. That shows how his performance was in great demand from the public. King Louis XV appointed him as a chamber musician of the royal musical establishment for his reputation. During them, King Louis XV's government spending on music and arts was the highest amongst the previous kings. An identical appointment was handed to his arch rival Pierre Guignon both rivaling for priority. Eventually they arranged an alternation but when its Leclair turn to play second violin, he could not bring himself to undertake a subordinate role and he resigned his position.
Eventually, he set his sight towards Holland, Amsterdam which had many wealthy music lovers and also a center for music publishing. His other motive is also to pay a visit to Locatelli who is a established and famed violinist so as to refine his composition. It is made known that his 4th book of Sonata which was completed during his visit to Holland was noticed to be in greater degree of technical difficulty and variety.
He was invited to enter the service of Princess Anne at the Orange court in the Netherland and was honored with the Croix Neerlandaise du Lion. At commoner Francois du Liz at The Hague, he was nominated as the maestro di cappella. After which, he entered the service with the Spanish Prince Don Philippe in Chambery briefly and returned back to Paris and spend the rest of his life there.
Labels: Jean-Marie Leclair
Posted by Damien Kee 30 September, 2010 at 11:58 PM .
Social Environment
Handel's Exposure to Music Education:
Handel has a very unsupportive Father, who wanted him to study nothing but Law. Fortunately, Duke Johann Adolf realised Handel's extraordinary music talents. The duke then persuaded Handel's father to allow young Handel to study music.Handel took music lessons from Sir Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow, an organist. Handel's proper musical education journey starts here.
Handel's affiliation with King George 1 & 2:
King George One was the former Elector of Hadover whom Handel first started working for. King George Two, was the king who started the tradition of standing up during Handel's Hallelujah Chorus. Handel composed public ceremonial music and many works such as Oratorios, Anthems etc , especially for King George Two and his royal family.
Handel's fight with Matteson:
Handel played the second violin in the Opera Orchestra as a living. Handel befriended the composer Johann Matteson. At one performance of Matteson's Opera, the two got into a fight over who was to play the harpsichord. They went outside for a duel that thankfully was terminated quickly when Matteson's sword broke on contacting a button on handel's coat.They still remain as friends after the incident.
Handel's Finance:
Handel had many rich and music-appreciative patrons such as Sir Richard Boyle and the Royal courts throughout his career life. In addition, Handel was also an entreprenenu in the Opera House. He assumed responsibility for the production of his works and shared in the box office profits. Attendance at his Opera concerts dwindled, as his italian Opera company had to compete with many rising English Opera companies. Though he bankrupted twice in life, he died a rich man.
What people thought of Handel:
Handel was known as " A big time impresario, who had his own money on the line". One of his contemporaries also describe Handel as a stubborn and angry man when provoked, but he could also be remarkably generous. He was temperamental, he loved freedom, and he hated restrictions which placed limits on his art.
Cultural Environment
Strict Society:Handel grew up in a Society, where people were encouarged to be quiet, work hard and follow the rules of their religion. Doing things because they were enjoyable wasn't approved. Women were not of equal status as men in their society as well.
Power lies in Royalty:
Kings and Queens of Europe spent lavish wealth on entertainment, and they were often willing to hire the best musicians in their time to perform for them.
Fierce Compeition among Musicians:
Handel's Italian Opera Company had to compete with English Opera Companies whom were getting more and more well-recieved by the society.
Labels: George Frederic Handel
Posted by Wee Ni Swen at 9:25 AM .
Strozzi, Barbara was born in Venice, Italy.
At age 15, she started singing text written by her father, Giulo Strozzi.
Her father formed Accademia degli Unisoni, where scholars and musicians discussed about music.
She performed at academic meetings and thus, she was sheltered from many rumours and criticism towards her.
She started her career officially through publishing a volume of madrigals written for 2 to 5 voices.
Throughout 1644 to 1664 she published 8 more volumes of vocal works.
She dedicated much of her works to important patrons of different ethnicity, including Ferdinand II of Austria and Eleanora of Mantua, Anne of Austria, Archduchess of Innsbruck, Nicolò Sagredo, later Doge of Venice and Sophia, Duchess of Brunswick and Lüneburg.
Her surviving works are over 100 instrumentals and vocals like ariettas, arias and cantatas for solo voice.
Labels: Barbara Strozzi
Posted by Damien Kee 23 September, 2010 at 12:48 PM .
Leclair studied in both France and Italy and learnt violin from Giovanni Battista Somis who was a pupil of Arcangelo Corelli. Leclair’s model for composing sonatas was the Italian sonata. He combined Italian virtuosic playing and the beauty of French music and modified the Corelli’s style that suited French taste. Leclair brought the French baroque concerto. Before him, French composers did not begin to write concertos. Although he used Italian music as model, his concertos contain more virtuosic passages then those of Locatelli, who was Italian contemporary composer. Leclair was named as “French Corelli” in his time.
Labels: Jean-Marie Leclair
Posted by Damien Kee 20 September, 2010 at 11:56 PM .
She appeared plump and wear sufficient jewelry to decorate herself to dress her prominent to appear infront of her wealthy patrons.
Labels: Barbara Strozzi
Posted by Damien Kee 19 September, 2010 at 12:50 PM .
In this portrait, Handel appears plump and well dressed. This shows that Handel must be wealthy and was able to afford a lavish lifestyle.
Labels: George Frederic Handel
Posted by Wee Ni Swen 12 September, 2010 at 9:18 AM .
From the potrait above, Jean-Marie Leclair looks calm and easy and appeared reasonably in good health given that he did live past 6 decades, which is considered uncommon in Baroque period.
Labels: Jean-Marie Leclair
Posted by Damien Kee 11 September, 2010 at 11:46 PM .
Women were not allowed to involve in Music.
The involvement of women in music was important during the Baroque and Classical ages.
The royal court invested in Music for entertainment.
Around the 1580s, the Ferrara Court notice that Females produced fine vocal timbre.
As such, few of them were hired by the court. However, their involvements were very restricted. They were refrained from showcasing their materials into general public.
Under the stresses of feminism, it was hard to establish a successful career.
Banned on churches.
-Only home usage of devotional church music was allowed
-Many became nuns
Banned on stages.
-They faced competition with castrato singers
Therefore, Secular music was the last option.
Few women were successful through feminism.
One notable composer was Barbara Strozzi (1619-1677), who made rapid developments in vocal works. She survived through dedicating her works to nobles despite the setbacks.
Labels: Barbara Strozzi
Posted by Damien Kee at 12:45 PM .
In this project, we are required to talk about 3 Baroque performers of that time. after group discussion, we conclude that we are going to adventure into:
- George Frederic Handel - Keyboardist, German origin, Birtish Composer
- Jean-Marie Leclair - Violinist, French Composer
- Strozzi Barbara - Singer, Italian Composer
Posted by Damien Kee 10 September, 2010 at 12:02 PM .
Team Mates
Baroque Performers Tag
Past
Previous Entries
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Strozzi - Success & Failure
» Leclair - Success and Failure
» Handel - Success and Failure
» Strozzi - Music in Character
» Leclair - Reputation and Talent
» Leclair - Social and Cultural Environment
» Handel - Social and Cultural Environment
» Strozzi - Reputation and talent
» Leclair - Music with character
» Strozzi, Barbara
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