Hélène-Louise Demars facts for kids
Hélène-Louise Demars was a talented French musician. She was a composer, which means she wrote music. She was also a music teacher. Hélène-Louise was born around 1736. She wrote special songs called cantatas for important people. These included Mademoiselle de Soubise and Madame La Marquise de Villeroy. She taught people how to play instruments like the harpsichord and the violin.
Growing Up in Paris
Hélène-Louise Demars was born in France in 1736. She likely grew up in Paris, a big city. Her father, Jean-Odéo Demars, was also a musician. He played music at two churches in Paris. After her father passed away in 1756, Hélène-Louise lived with her mother and brothers and sisters. They lived on a street called Rue St. Thomas du Louvre.
Her Family Life
In 1759, Hélène-Louise Demars got married. Her husband was Jean-Baptiste Vernier. He was a violinist, someone who plays the violin. He also sold music, especially music from other countries. We do not know if Hélène-Louise and Jean-Baptiste had any children.
Music and Career
One of Demars' most famous works is "L'Horoscope." This piece was written for Mademoiselle de Soubise. She was part of the important Rohan family. "L'Horoscope" was performed for her as early as November 21, 1748. At that time, Demars was only about 12 years old. This work was later printed in a famous French magazine called Mercure de France in 1749.
Demars also wrote another piece called "Hercule et Omphale." She dedicated this work to Madame La Marquise de Villeroy. She created several other musical works as well.
Hélène-Louise Demars was part of a special group of writers and artists. This group was led by Alexandre Le Riche de La Poupelinière. He was a very important supporter of the arts during the Age of Enlightenment. The Enlightenment was a time when new ideas about science and thinking became popular. Being part of this group likely helped Demars meet other artists. It also helped her find people who could support her music.
Besides composing, Demars was also a teacher. She taught people how to play the violin and the harpsichord. The harpsichord is an old musical instrument similar to a piano. In 1759, an advertisement in a Paris book called "Tableau de Paris" listed her. It said she was a "maîtresse," which means "teacher," of the harpsichord.
