Jean marie leclair biography books

1. Biography of Jean-Marie Leclair
2. Personal Life and Later Years

Biography of Jean-Marie Leclair

Jean-Marie Leclair, a French violinist and composer, is considered the founder of the French violin school. He was born as the eldest of eight children to Antoine Leclair, a weaver and cellist, and from a young age, he also learned sewing, violin playing, and dance. In 1716, he joined the ballet troupe of the Lyon Opera House and performed as a violinist and dancer in Rouen. He married the dancer Marie-Rose Castagny. From 1722 to 1726, he played at royal wedding celebrations and worked as a ballet master in Turin, where he further honed his skills under Giovanni Battista Somis. Upon his return to Paris, Leclair performed in the "Concerts Spirituels" under the patronage of a wealthy merchant and composed his first works – 12 sonatas for violin and basso continuo. The musical community warmly received them, praising his compositional style and unique approach.

As a performer, Leclair also achieved great success. One notable event in his life was his performances in London alongside the renowned Italian violinist Pietro Locatelli. This marked the beginning of a long period of rivalry between the Italian and French violin schools. Leclair's playing was characterized by its beauty of tone and rhythmic freedom, while Locatelli amazed audiences with his flawless technique. Critics referred to Leclair's playing as "angelic" and Locatelli's as "devilish." Despite being rivals on stage, the two violinists were friends in real life and collaborated on several works. Musicologists note the influence of Locatelli's style on some of Leclair's sonatas. Leclair also collaborated with other famous musicians of his time, such as the harpsichordist Andre Cheron.

Personal Life and Later Years

Leclair's first wife passed away in 1728, and two years later, he married Louise Russel, who worked in publishing and participated in the publication of several of his works. His true recognition as a performer came in 1733 when the French King Louis XV invited him to be the court violinist. As a token of gratitude, Leclair dedicated several sonatas to the royal figure. At the court, Leclair became close with notable performers such as violist Antoine Forqueray and violinist Jean-Pierre Guignon. Leclair was one of the few musicians allowed to perform his own compositions at court, as the repertoire of court musicians mainly consisted of music by older masters like Jean-Baptiste Lully. In 1737, Leclair and Guignon had a falling out over the right to lead the royal orchestra. Although they eventually agreed to alternate conducting every month, Leclair resigned and left Paris shortly after.

Soon after, he received an invitation to the Dutch royal court from Princess Anne, who was proficient in playing the harpsichord and studied under George Frideric Handel. According to the agreement, Leclair was to spend three months each year at the court. In 1740, he also started working in The Hague, where he conducted the orchestra. However, three years later, the benefactor who financed the orchestra went bankrupt, and Leclair returned to Paris, where he spent the rest of his life, occasionally visiting Lyon. From the mid-1740s, Leclair focused on private teaching and composition. In 1746, his only opera, "Scylla et Glaucus," was staged. Written in the style of Jean-Philippe Rameau, the opera had around 20 performances in two months before being taken off the repertoire.

In 1748, he entered the service of the Duke of Gramont, a former student of his, and worked as a composer and conductor in his private theater. Leclair dedicated several instrumental and vocal compositions to the Duke. In 1758, the musician divorced his wife and settled in a recently purchased house in a secluded neighborhood of Paris. On the morning of October 23, 1764, Leclair was found murdered on the threshold of his home. The crime was never solved, although three suspects were identified by the police: the gardener who discovered the body, Leclair's wife, and his nephew (the majority of evidence pointed towards him). Leclair played a significant role in the history of violin performance. With his exceptional skill, he contributed to the development of the French violin school. His technique included double stops, tremolo with the left hand, playing in high positions, and more. Although his playing style is often described as "French," some traits clearly indicate the influence of the Italian school, such as the use of long, "Tartini-like" bow strokes. Leclair had many students, some of whom became renowned violinists.

As a composer, he also had great significance. In his sonatas and concertos, he drew inspiration from the forms and styles of Arcangelo Corelli and Antonio Vivaldi, respectively, while establishing his own unique style of composition. His harmony was rich and vibrant, employing chromatic chord progressions and enharmonic modulations. Leclair's music was characterized by its elegance and noble sound.