Antoine Boësset

Antoine de Boesset ( Sieur de Villedieu ) (* February 24, 1587 in Blois, † December 8, 1643 in Paris) was a French court composer of the Baroque.

The son of composer Pierre Guedron, received in 1613 the post of " Maître de musique de la chambre du roi " and in 1617 that of the " maître de musique de la reine ," 1620 a chamber secretary de king in 1623 to the " surintendant de la musique de la chambre du roi ". In 1634 he became a consultant and " maître d' hôtel ordinaire du roi ". The most important offices he was able to exercise until his death.

De Boesset is known as one of the composers of Air de Cour which were published in 1608 with works by other composers in a collection. 200 4 - to 5 -note " airs " published in nine volumes, which were provided with a lute. In his position at court, he created more than 20 ballets. The church works that have been attributed to him seem long to go back to his son Jean -Baptiste de Boesset ( 1614-1685 ).

Marin Mersenne thought he was one of the best masters of the ornament and recommended its imitation. In his 1630 published 7 collection, he used the first time in France the term basso continuo. Unusually for the 17th century, the publisher Ballard in 1689, 46 years after Boëssets published after death, a collection of polyphonic Arias ( Airs Polyphoniques ).

Works (selection)

• 9 Livres d ' " airs de cour " for 4 and 5 Voices ( 1617-1642; Neuaufl 1689. )
• Numerous " Airs de cour " for voice and lute (published by Ballard, Paris)
• Several ballet music ( created 1614-1639 )