Jean-Baptiste Loeillet of London facts for kids

Jean-Baptiste Loeillet of London (born November 18, 1680 – died July 19, 1730) was a talented Flemish composer and musician. He lived during the Baroque period, a time when music was grand and decorative. People often call him the London Loeillet to tell him apart from his cousin, Jean-Baptiste Loeillet of Ghent, who was also a famous composer.

A Musician's Journey

Jean-Baptiste Loeillet was born in Ghent, which was then part of the Spanish Netherlands. He had a younger brother, Jacques Loeillet, who also became a composer. To avoid confusion, people started calling him the London Loeillet and his cousin the Ghent Loeillet.

Moving to London

In 1705, after finishing his studies in Ghent and Paris, Jean-Baptiste moved to London, England. There, he started using the name John. His musical works were published by John Walsh in London under the name John Loeillet. He released collections of sonatas for groups of instruments and also lessons for the harpsichord.

Talented Performer and Teacher

Loeillet was a very skilled musician. He could play several instruments, including the recorder, flute, oboe, and harpsichord. He was also a successful teacher, especially for the harpsichord.

He played woodwind instruments at the Queen's Theatre in Haymarket. He also held musical gatherings at his home every week. His performances were very popular in London. He helped introduce the famous 12 Concerti Grossi by Arcangelo Corelli to London audiences. Loeillet also helped make the transverse flute popular in England. This was a newer instrument compared to the recorder. He lived and died in London.

His Musical Works

Jean-Baptiste Loeillet mainly wrote sonatas in the Baroque style. A sonata is a piece of music usually for one or two instruments. His sonatas often had four to six sections, called movements. These pieces were typically for one or three main instruments, along with a basso continuo. A basso continuo is a group of instruments that provide the bass line and harmonies, like a cello and a harpsichord playing together.

He used instruments like the flute, recorder, oboe, and violin as the main solo instruments in his three collections of sonatas. His 12 Trio Sonatas were dedicated to John Manners, 3rd Duke of Rutland, a noble person.

Name Confusion

While he was in London, Loeillet's last name was sometimes spelled as Lully or Lullie. Because of this, one of his compositions, Lessons for the Harpsichord or Spinet, was mistakenly thought to be written by Jean-Baptiste Lully. Lully was another famous composer, born in Italy but known for his work in France.

List of Compositions

Here are some of the musical works by Jean-Baptiste Loeillet:

• 6 Trio Sonatas, Op. 1 (published in 1722)
• 12 Trio Sonatas, Op. 2 (published in 1725)
• 12 Solos, Op.3 (published in 1729)
• Lessons for the Harpsichord or Spinet (published in 1712)
• 6 Suites of Lessons for the Harpsichord (published in 1723)