Louis-Gabriel Guillemain
Encyclopedia
Louis-Gabriel Guillemain (5 November 1705, Paris
– 1 October 1770) was a French
composer
and violin
ist.
, Guillemain was raised by the Count de Rochechouart
, and started studying violin at an early age. He was then sent to Italy to complete his training as violinist, and studied under Giovanni Battista Somis
in Turin
. At 24, Guillemain was working in Lyons
, where he quickly established himself as one of the most sought-after performers, and was appointed first violinist of the Acadèmie de Musique. His opus 1, Premier livre de sonates for violin and basso continuo, was published in Dijon
in 1734.
Guillemain eventually moved back to Paris, where, in 1737, he became a musicien ordinaire to the King. His career was progressing rapidly, and by early 1740s the composer was among the highest-paid musicians at the court, regularly performing in private concerts before the royal couple. He continued publishing his music, and his works were frequently performed at the court in late 1740s and early 1750s. Fellow composer Louis-Claude Daquin
praised Guillemain in his 1752 Lettre sur les hommes célèbres:
However, Guillemain's private life was troubled. He was apparently a heavy drinker, especially in his later years, and he was also continually in debt because of his affinity for making expensive purchases. He died in Chaville
, then a small settlement near Paris, in 1770; some contemporary accounts describe his death as a bloody suicide, with the composer stabbing himself with a knife fourteen times. However, the drinking habit and the fact that Guillemain was buried, may indicate that he died a natural death.
A few other pieces by Guillemain appeared in contemporary anthologies.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
– 1 October 1770) was a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
composer
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 violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist.
Biography
Probably born in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Guillemain was raised by the Count de Rochechouart
House of Rochechouart
The House of Limoges-Rochechouart is the most ancient noble family in France after the royal family. This powerful dynasty of the Carolingian era dates back to Foucher, supporter of Charles the Bald, who became viscount of Limoges in 876...
, and started studying violin at an early age. He was then sent to Italy to complete his training as violinist, and studied under Giovanni Battista Somis
Giovanni Battista Somis
Giovanni Battista Somis was an Italian violinist and composer of the Baroque music era.He studied under Arcangelo Corelli between 1703 and 1706 or 1707...
in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
. At 24, Guillemain was working in Lyons
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, where he quickly established himself as one of the most sought-after performers, and was appointed first violinist of the Acadèmie de Musique. His opus 1, Premier livre de sonates for violin and basso continuo, was published in Dijon
Dijon
Dijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Burgundy region.Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy. Population : 151,576 within the city limits; 250,516 for the greater Dijon area....
in 1734.
Guillemain eventually moved back to Paris, where, in 1737, he became a musicien ordinaire to the King. His career was progressing rapidly, and by early 1740s the composer was among the highest-paid musicians at the court, regularly performing in private concerts before the royal couple. He continued publishing his music, and his works were frequently performed at the court in late 1740s and early 1750s. Fellow composer Louis-Claude Daquin
Louis-Claude Daquin
Louis-Claude Daquin , was a French composer of Jewish birth writing in the Baroque and Galant styles. He was a virtuoso organist and harpsichordist.-Life:...
praised Guillemain in his 1752 Lettre sur les hommes célèbres:
When one speaks of a man full of fire, genius and life, one has to think of Monsieur Guillemain, Musician to the King; he is perhaps the most extraordinary and adroit violinist one can hear play. There are no difficulties that can stump him and he can compose learned pieces which sometimes embarrass his rivals. Among the great Masters, this celebrated artist is one of the most productive. His works are full of touching beauty.
However, Guillemain's private life was troubled. He was apparently a heavy drinker, especially in his later years, and he was also continually in debt because of his affinity for making expensive purchases. He died in Chaville
Chaville
Chaville is a commune in the southwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.-Nearest communes:*Meudon*Sèvres*Vélizy-Villacoublay*Viroflay*Ville-d'Avray....
, then a small settlement near Paris, in 1770; some contemporary accounts describe his death as a bloody suicide, with the composer stabbing himself with a knife fourteen times. However, the drinking habit and the fact that Guillemain was buried, may indicate that he died a natural death.
List of works
All published in Paris, unless specified otherwise.- Opus 1: Premier livre de sonates, 12 sonatas for violin and basso continuo (Dijon, 1734)
- Opus 2: XII sonates en trio pour les violons et flûtes, 12 trio sonatas (c. 1738)
- Opus 3: Deuxième livre de sonates, sonatas for violin and basso continuo (1739)
- Opus 4: VI sonates for 2 violins (1739)
- Opus 5: Deuxième livre de sonates, sonatas for two violins/flutes (1739)
- Opus 6: VI symphonies dans le goût italien en trio, for 2 violins and basso continuo (1740)
- Opus 7: Six concertinos à quatre parties, for 2 violins, viola, and basso continuo (1740)
- Opus 8: Premier amusement à la mode, for two violins/flutes and basso continuo (1740)
- Opus 9: Pièces for two vielles/musettes/flutes/violins (c. 1741), lost
- Opus 10: Six sonates en trio, for 2 violins and basso continuo (1741)
- Opus 11: Troisième livre de sonates, for violin(s) and basso continuo (1742)
- Opus 12: Six sonates en quatuors ou conversations galantes, for flute, violin, bass viol, and basso continuo (1743)
- Opus 13: Pièces de clavecin en sonates avec accompagnement de violon, 6 pieces for violin and harpsichord (1745)
- L'opérateur chinois, ballet-pantomime (c. 1748)
- Opus 14: Second livre de symphonies dans le goût italien en trio, 6 symphonies for 2 violins and basso continuo (1748)
- Opus 15: Divertissemens de symphonies en trio, for 2 violins and basso continuo (1751)
- Opus 16: Symphonies d'un goût nouveau en forme de concerto pour les musettes, vielles, flûtes ou hautbois (1752), lost
- Opus 17: Second livre de sonates en quatuor, for flute, violin, bass viol, and basso continuo (1756)
- Opus 18: Amusement pour le violon seul composé de plusieurs airs variés de differens auteurs … avec douze caprices, for solo violin, incl. pieces by other composers (1762)
A few other pieces by Guillemain appeared in contemporary anthologies.