Antoine Forqueray

Antoine Forqueray (born September 1672 in Paris , † June 28, 1745 in Mantes-la-Jolie ) was a French composer and royal chamber musician and, alongside Marin Marais, the most important viol player at the court of Louis XIV. He was the father of Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Forqueray .

As a young boy, Forqueray got the opportunity to play Louis XIV on the viola da gamba. Enthusiastic about his talent, the king decided that the young musician should grow up at court and receive training as a viol player there. In 1689 he was appointed musician of the royal chamber. At court he played with François Couperin , Robert de Visée and others. He stayed in this position until he retired to Mantes sur Seine (now Mantes-la-Jolie ) in 1731 . His son Jean-Baptiste Forqueray took over his position at court in 1742.

As a youth, Forqueray taught the dukes of Burgundy, Orléans and the Electors of Bavaria at the king's court. Louis XIV often had the musician perform and was a worthy admirer of his art. He had promised to honor him by awarding him the ribbon of St. Michael and to offer him a pension. But this did not happen because of the death of the king; instead Forqueray was allowed to receive a gift of 100.00 francs from the king.

During his time in Versailles, he not only made a name for himself as a talent for improvisation, but also composed more than 300 works for viol, 32 of which were brought together in 1747 by his son in the Pièces de Viole . His music has a rather robust Italian character instead of the very affected and highly ornate style customary in France at the time, which characterizes Marin Marais' works, for example.

François Couperin describes Forqueray's viola pieces as "superb, difficult, aggressive art that expresses will and struggle". There is no measure, no phrase without difficulty, without the highest demands on the interpreter. Without a doubt, the viola reaches its climax through Forqueray.

According to Philippe Beaussant, Forqueray had a shameful, cruel relationship with his wife Angélique Henriette Houssu, who married him in 1697 at the age of 17 "to her misfortune". She filed a lawsuit against Forqueray for ten years until she was divorced from him. He was fined for paying legal fees. The relationship with his son was no better. The father even had him locked in prison.

Web links

Works by and about Antoine Forqueray in the catalog of the German National Library

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d Philippe Beaussant: Booklet on: Antoine Forquerai. Pieces de Viole avec le Basse de continué. Tome II & II. Suites. Jordi Savall . Astrée 1972.

personal data
SURNAME	Forqueray, Antoine
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	French composer and viol player
DATE OF BIRTH	September 1672
PLACE OF BIRTH	Paris
DATE OF DEATH	June 28, 1745
Place of death	Mantes-la-Jolie

[Beaussant-1] Philippe Beaussant: Booklet on: Antoine Forquerai. Pieces de Viole avec le Basse de continué. Tome II & II. Suites. Jordi Savall . Astrée 1972.