Louis Marchand
Louis Marchand ( born February 2, 1669 Lyon, † February 17, 1732 in Paris) was a French harpsichordist, organist and composer.
Life
Marchand's father, Jean said to be a " mediocre organist ". Louis, however, was, according to a study published in the year he died biography, already with 14 years organist of the Cathedral of Nevers. Other documents show that he married at age 20 in Paris. From 1691 he worked at the Jesuit church in the Rue St. Jacques, at St Benoît, at the Cordeliers and St Honoré. From 1708 he was officially one of the organists of the king. In 1713 he embarked on a multi-year journey through the German states and played for the emperor and for some electors. In September 1717 he is said to have a musical contest with Johann Sebastian Bach withdrawn at the Dresden court by flight; However, describing this incident only German sources, such as Friedrich Wilhelm and Jacob Marpurg Adlung. Apparently, Marchand received a little later in Paris with open arms. Until his death he was organist at the Cordeliers and a much sought-after teacher; be most successful student was Louis -Claude Daquin.
Louis Marchand had in France an outstanding reputation as a virtuoso. In addition ensured scandals for his fame: He is said to have launched intrigues against Dandrieu Pierre and François Couperin and beaten his wife. In 1701 he left her; the trip to Germany to have been an escape from their financial loans. In Germany Marchand must have claimed that he had been exiled because of " impertinence " of Louis XIV. Anyway, know only German sources this version, Musikgeschichtler they doubt.
Work
Louis Marchand seems to have been little interest in publications of his compositions. After all, numerous little songs, known as airs, taken in anthologies of his time. 1702 appeared in Paris two suites for harpsichord, where charm and quality will be awarded; an anthology of 1707 contains a harpsichord piece called " La vénitienne ". Only after Marchand's death appeared in Paris a collection of organ pieces, including a quartet for three manuals and pedal.