Musicians - Louis-Claude Daquin

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	Musicians - Louis-Claude Daquin

Louis-Claude Daquin (or d'Acquin), (July 4, 1694 – June 15, 1772) was a French composer of Jewish birth writing in the Baroque and Galant styles. He was a virtuoso organist and harpsichordist.

Louis-Claude Daquin was born in Paris, to a converted Jewish family from Carpentras originating from Italy (where their name was D'Acquino). One of his great-uncles was a professor of Hebrew at the College de France. Daquin was a musical child prodigy, for he performed for the court of King Louis XIV at the age of six. At the age of 12, he became organist at the Sainte-Chapelle, and in the following year took a similar post at the church of the Petit St. Antoine.

In 1727 Daquin was appointed organist at the church of St. Paul in Paris, besting Jean-Philippe Rameau for the job. Five years later he became organist, succeeding Louis Marchand, at the Cordeliers. In 1739 he became organist to the king. In 1755 he succeeded Antoine Calvière as titular organist at the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris.

By reputation a dazzling performer at the keyboard, Daquin was much appreciated by the aristocracy and his great expertise at the organ drew considerable crowds to hear him.

His surviving music includes four harpsichord suites, settings of Christmas pastorals (noëls), a cantata, and an air à boire. Among the most famous of his works are the Swiss Noel (Noël Suisse) and Le Coucou (The Cuckoo).

Listening

Listen to Louis-Claude Daquin's Le Coucou (MIDI file).

References and further reading

"Louis-Claude Daquin," in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, ed. Stanley Sadie. 20 vol. London, Macmillan Publishers Ltd., 1980. ISBN 1561591742
in French Wikipedia
"The Music of the Jews in the Diaspora" by Alfred Sendrey (New York, 1970).

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