Michel Montéclair
Encyclopedia
Michel Pignolet de Montéclair (4 December 1667 – 22 September 1737) was a French composer of the baroque
period.
He was born Michel Pignolet in Andelot, Haute-Marne
, France, and only later added "Montéclair" (the name of a fortress in his home town) to his name. Little is known of his life, and there are no known portraits. He was the son of a weaver; his entrance into the choir school at the age of nine may have been the only chance of escaping the poverty of a weaver's life. In 1687, he went to Paris and joined the orchestra of the Opera, where he played the basse de violon. In Paris he studied with Jean-Baptiste Moreau
.
At some point between 1687 and the early years of the new century, he seems to have been maître de musique to the Prince de Vaudémont
and to have followed him to Italy. It was probably from there that he brought the idea to add the double bass to the opera orchestra.
All the time Montéclair must have worked as a music teacher of high regard: among his pupils were the daughters of his colleague François Couperin
. His approach to teaching was fresh and almost modern. He published books on teaching music (e.g. 1709), and around 1730 he published "Recueil de brunettes", which contains vocal music adapted for flute
. The collection was expressly intended as a pedagogical tool to teach French style, and for this reason the music is underlaid with the text. He opened a music shop in 1721, retired from teaching in 1735, and gave up his position in the opera orchestra shortly before his death. He died in Aumont
in 1737.
Montéclair was not greatly productive as a composer, but was an innovator in orchestration who had a significant influence on the development of the art form. His work was later taken up by Jean-Philippe Rameau
. His specialty was using certain instruments to enhance the stage scene, e.g. letting horns play softly behind the stage to simulate a faraway hunt. Among his stage works are Festes de l'été and Jephté
, which was considered difficult by contemporaries.
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
period.
He was born Michel Pignolet in Andelot, Haute-Marne
Haute-Marne
Haute-Marne is a department in the northeast of France named after the Marne River.-History:Haute-Marne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
, France, and only later added "Montéclair" (the name of a fortress in his home town) to his name. Little is known of his life, and there are no known portraits. He was the son of a weaver; his entrance into the choir school at the age of nine may have been the only chance of escaping the poverty of a weaver's life. In 1687, he went to Paris and joined the orchestra of the Opera, where he played the basse de violon. In Paris he studied with Jean-Baptiste Moreau
Jean-Baptiste Moreau
Jean-Baptiste Moreau was a French composer of the baroque period. He served as the master of music at the court of Louis XIV. His compositional output includes several motets and music for the theatre.-Life and career:...
.
At some point between 1687 and the early years of the new century, he seems to have been maître de musique to the Prince de Vaudémont
Prince Charles Henry de Lorraine-Vaudemont
Charles Henri of Lorraine was the legitimated son of Charles IV, Duke of Lorraine, and Béatrix de Cusance. His was given the Principality of Commercy in 1708 by his cousin Leopold, Duke of Lorraine...
and to have followed him to Italy. It was probably from there that he brought the idea to add the double bass to the opera orchestra.
All the time Montéclair must have worked as a music teacher of high regard: among his pupils were the daughters of his colleague François Couperin
Couperin
The Couperin family were a musical dynasty of professional composers and performers. They were the most prolific family in French musical history, active during the Baroque era...
. His approach to teaching was fresh and almost modern. He published books on teaching music (e.g. 1709), and around 1730 he published "Recueil de brunettes", which contains vocal music adapted for flute
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...
. The collection was expressly intended as a pedagogical tool to teach French style, and for this reason the music is underlaid with the text. He opened a music shop in 1721, retired from teaching in 1735, and gave up his position in the opera orchestra shortly before his death. He died in Aumont
Aumont
-People:* Jean-Pierre Aumont , French actor* Aumont family, a family which played an important part in French history* Phillippe Aumont, Canadian pitcher drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft-France:...
in 1737.
Montéclair was not greatly productive as a composer, but was an innovator in orchestration who had a significant influence on the development of the art form. His work was later taken up by Jean-Philippe Rameau
Jean-Philippe Rameau
Jean-Philippe Rameau was one of the most important French composers and music theorists of the Baroque era. He replaced Jean-Baptiste Lully as the dominant composer of French opera and is also considered the leading French composer for the harpsichord of his time, alongside François...
. His specialty was using certain instruments to enhance the stage scene, e.g. letting horns play softly behind the stage to simulate a faraway hunt. Among his stage works are Festes de l'été and Jephté
Jephté
Jephté is an opera by the French composer Michel Pignolet de Montéclair. It takes the form of a tragédie en musique in a prologue and five acts . The libretto, by the Abbé Simon-Joseph Pellegrin, is based on the Biblical story of Jephtha...
, which was considered difficult by contemporaries.
Works
His works include:- Cantata: La mort de Didon (written circa 1709 in French)
- Musette: Les festes de l'été 1716)
- Cantata: Il dispetto in amore (in Italian)
- Cantata: Le triomphe de l'amour (in French)
- Cantata: Morte di Lucretia (in Italian)
- Cantata: Pyrame et Thisbé (in French)
- "Recueil de brunettes" Paris: Boivin, ca. 1730