Jean-Baptiste Cupis de Camargo

Jean-Baptiste Cupis de Camargo (born November 23, 1711 in Brussels , † April 30, 1788 in Paris ) was a French violinist and composer .

Life

Cupis received his first music lessons from his father, a dance and music teacher from France. The family moved to Paris around 1720. In 1729 he married Constance Dutour in Paris. As one of the most famous violinists in Paris of his time, he made several appearances at the Concert Spirituel . In 1737 he received the royal privilege to publish his instrumental works, which were printed between 1738 and 1745. Jean-Philippe Rameau dedicated his 5th concert from the Pièces de clavecin en concert to Cupis , to which he gave the title La Cupis . His violin playing was extremely brilliant, several of his works for the first time in France demand playing in the 8th position, for which he used complicated double stops and bow strokes. In his playing instructions, he used dynamic terms, which was not a common practice at the time.

In 1750 he received the officer's license from the “ Capitainerie royale ”, which dealt with royal hunting, fishing and forestry. Cupis was one of the first mayors of the Parisian suburb of Montreuil, which was then still in a wooded area . As such, he was made a baron in 1773. He spent the last years of his life studying arboriculture.

family

• His sister Marie Camargo was one of the most famous dancers of her time.
• His younger brother François Cupis de Renoussard (1732-1808), cellist and composer, was a member of the Paris Opéra Royale from 1750 to 1770 with another brother.
• Jean-Baptiste Cupis “le jeune” (* 1741) was like his uncle a member of the Paris Opera. In addition to a cello method, he composed the sonatas op. 1, three more opp. Duos for cellos and numerous song and aria arrangements. His Concerto à grand orchester pour le violoncelle (1783) is one of the first French cello concertos.

Works

• op. 1 Sonates à Violon seul avec la basse continue (1738)
• op. 2 Sonates à Violon seul avec la basse continue (1742) The first sonata contains the "Cupis Minuet", which is often reprinted.
• op.3 Six Symphonia à quatres parties (around 1745)