Etienne Bernard Barrière

Etienne-Bernard-Joseph Barrière (born February 7, 1748 in Valenciennes , † around 1816 or 1818 in Paris ) was a French violinist and composer of the Classical era.

Life

At the age of 12, Barriere went to Paris, where he studied with François-André Danican Philidor (composition) and André-Noël Pagin (violin). He made his debut on April 20, 1767 in the Concert Spirituel , where he also performed his own violin concerto on April 24 of the same year (further appearances there are attested for 1776 and 1778). He then lived alternately in Valenciennes and Paris until at least 1789, where he published numerous instrumental works from 1776.

Contemporary judgments

Barriere enjoyed a high reputation as a violinist and composer during his time. Contemporary reviews emphasize "la netteté, la justesse, la délicatesse et la sensibilité" ("clarity, precision, delicacy and sensitivity") his violin playing (Mercure de France, May 1767, first appearance in Concert spirituel) and his "jeu brillant et précis "(" brilliant and precise play ") (Petites Affiches de Valenciennes, December 29, 1821, for a concert with Lafont 1801). The only contemporary judgment on his compositions can be found in the Mercure de France of June 1783: "La réputation de ce Compositeur, déjà établie par plusieurs bons ouvrages, doit donner une idée favorable de celui-ci" ("The already established by several good works Reputation of this composer must give a favorable idea of ​​the present work ").

Works

Barrier's own instrument is also the focus of his compositional work: in addition to violin concertos and concert symphonies , the focus is on chamber music (string quartets, trios and duos). Together with Giuseppe Cambini , Nicolas-Marie Dalayrac , Jean-Baptiste Davaux , Nicolas-Joseph Chartrain and Joseph Boulogne de Saint-George , Barrière is one of the main exponents of the Parisian string quartet ( Quatuor concertant ) in the period before the French Revolution. His quartets are simple, formally balanced, elegant works with catchy melodies in which all four instruments, but especially the violins and somewhat less the viola, are involved in the musical happening; but again and again all voices are effectively brought together in unison. The by no means undemanding violin parts demand the same precision and sensitivity that, according to contemporary judgments, characterized Barrière's own violin playing.

literature

• Jean Gribenski: Barrière, Barrier, Etienne Bernard Joseph, in: Music in Past and Present (MGG), Person Part Vol. 2, Col. 292–293.
• Janet Muriel Levy: The Quatuor concertant in Paris in the Later Half of the Eighteenth Century , Diss. Stanford 1971.

Web links

• Sheet music and audio files by Etienne Bernard Barrière in the International Music Score Library Project
• CV in Harmonia sacra (French)
• First printing of the string quartets Op.1 (Munich Digitization Center)
• First printing of the string quartets Op.8 (Munich Digitization Center)