Jean-Marie Leclair

Jean-Marie Leclair (1697 - 1764) was a French composer and violinist. Initially a dancer, he lived from 1723 in Paris, where he became a prominent soloist and began producing violin sonatas (from 1723). He also appeared abroad, and in 1733 became ordinaire de la musique du roi at the French court. In 1738-43 he served the court of Orange in the Netherlands and (in 1740-43) François du Liz at The Hague. He then lived mainly in Paris, where he was murdered (probably by his nephew).

Foremost in Leclair's output are over 60 solo, duet and trio sonatas for violin. In these he imbued the Italian style with French elements more successfully than most of his contemporaries, using short ornamented phrases and colourful harmonies; the idiom reflects his own virtuoso technique. He also composed concertos, minuets, suites etc, ballet music, an opera (Scylla et Glaucus, 1746) with many striking features and other vocal music. He was an influential teacher and is considered the founder of the French violin school.

Leclair was one of several musical brothers. The most important were Jean-Marie (1703-77), a violinist, who directed the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Lyons and composed sonatas and other works, Pierre (1709-84) and Jean-Benoît (1714-after 1759), both violinists and composers in Lyons.

Although originally written for Cello and period keyboard, I created this arrangement for Flute & Harp.