Jean-Marie Leclair facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jean-Marie Leclair
Born	Jean-Marie Leclair l'aîné (1697-05-10)10 May 1697 Lyon, France
Died	22 October 1764(1764-10-22) (aged 67)
Other names	The Elder
Occupation	violinist, composer

Jean-Marie Leclair (born May 10, 1697 – died October 22, 1764) was a famous French Baroque musician. He was a talented violinist and composer. Many people believe he started the French style of playing the violin. His brothers, Jean-Marie Leclair the Younger, Pierre Leclair, and Jean-Benoît Leclair, were also musicians.

About Jean-Marie Leclair

Jean-Marie Leclair was born in Lyon, France. When he was older, he moved to Turin to study dance and the violin.

In 1716, he married Marie-Rose Casthanie, who was a dancer. She passed away around 1728.

Leclair returned to Paris in 1723. There, he performed at the Concert Spirituel, which was a popular public music series. He also wrote music, including sonatas for instruments like the flute and basso continuo (a type of musical accompaniment).

In 1730, Leclair married again to Louise Roussel. She was an engraver, meaning she helped prepare his music for printing. She helped publish many of his works.

In 1733, King Louis XV of France named Leclair the "Director of Music" for the royal court. Leclair even dedicated his third book of violin sonatas to the king. However, Leclair left this job in 1736 after a disagreement with another musician, Jean-Pierre Guignon.

After leaving the king's service, Leclair worked for the Princess of Orange. She was a very good harpsichord player and had studied with the famous composer Handel. From 1738 to 1743, Leclair spent three months each year at her court in Leeuwarden. The rest of the year, he worked in The Hague as a private music director.

Leclair returned to Paris in 1743. His only opera, called Scylla et Glaucus, was first performed in 1746. An opera is a play where the words are sung to music.

From 1740 until he passed away, Leclair worked for the Duke of Gramont. He helped create music for plays at the Duke's private theater. This included a long musical show for a comedy in 1749 and a full section for an opéra-ballet in 1750.

Leclair was known as an amazing violinist and composer. He used different musical styles from all over Europe in his works. Many of his suites, sonatas, and concertos still exist today. Some of his other works, like vocal pieces and ballets, have been lost over time.

A Sad Mystery

Jean-Marie Leclair passed away on October 22, 1764. He was found in his home in Paris. The circumstances of his death were very sad and remain a mystery.

List of Works

Leclair wrote many pieces of music. Here are some of his most well-known works, organized by their "Opus" number (which is how composers often number their published works):

• Op. 1 No. 1 – Violin Sonata in A minor
• Op. 1 No. 2 – Violin Sonata in C major
• Op. 1 No. 3 – Violin Sonata in B flat major
• Op. 1 No. 4 – Violin Sonata in D major
• Op. 1 No. 5 – Violin Sonata in G major
• Op. 1 No. 6 – Violin Sonata in E minor
• Op. 1 No. 7 – Violin Sonata in F major
• Op. 1 No. 8 – Violin Sonata in G major
• Op. 1 No. 9 – Violin Sonata in A major
• Op. 1 No. 10 – Violin Sonata in D major
• Op. 1 No. 11 – Violin Sonata in B flat major
• Op. 1 No. 12 – Violin Sonata in B minor
• Op. 2 No. 1 – Violin Sonata in E minor
• Op. 2 No. 2 – Violin Sonata in F major
• Op. 2 No. 3 – Violin Sonata in C major
• Op. 2 No. 4 – Violin Sonata in A major
• Op. 2 No. 5 – Violin Sonata in G major
• Op. 2 No. 6 – Violin Sonata in D major
• Op. 2 No. 7 – Violin Sonata in B flat major
• Op. 2 No. 8 – Violin Sonata in D major
• Op. 2 No. 9 – Violin Sonata in E major
• Op. 2 No. 10 – Violin Sonata in C minor
• Op. 2 No. 11 – Violin Sonata in B minor
• Op. 2 No. 12 – Violin Sonata in G minor
• Op. 3 No. 1 – Sonata for 2 violins in G major
• Op. 3 No. 2 – Sonata for 2 violins in A major
• Op. 3 No. 3 – Sonata for 2 violins in C major
• Op. 3 No. 4 – Sonata for 2 violins in F major
• Op. 3 No. 5 – Sonata for 2 violins in E minor
• Op. 3 No. 6 – Sonata for 2 violins in D major
• Op. 4 No. 1 – Trio for 2 violins & continuo in D minor
• Op. 4 No. 2 – Trio for 2 violins & continuo in B flat major
• Op. 4 No. 3 – Trio for 2 violins & continuo in D minor
• Op. 4 No. 4 – Trio for 2 violins & continuo in F major
• Op. 4 No. 5 – Trio for 2 violins & continuo in G minor
• Op. 4 No. 6 – Trio for 2 violins & continuo in A major
• Op. 5 No. 1 – Violin Sonata in A major
• Op. 5 No. 2 – Violin Sonata in F major
• Op. 5 No. 3 – Violin Sonata in E minor
• Op. 5 No. 4 – Violin Sonata in B flat major
• Op. 5 No. 5 – Violin Sonata in B minor
• Op. 5 No. 6 – Violin Sonata in C minor
• Op. 5 No. 7 – Violin Sonata in A minor
• Op. 5 No. 8 – Violin Sonata in D major
• Op. 5 No. 9 – Violin Sonata in E major
• Op. 5 No. 10 – Violin Sonata in C major
• Op. 5 No. 11 – Violin Sonata in G minor
• Op. 5 No. 12 – Violin Sonata in G major
• Op. 6 – Récréation de musique in D major
• Op. 7 No. 1 – Violin Concerto in D minor (1737)
• Op. 7 No. 2 – Violin Concerto in D major
• Op. 7 No. 3 – Violin Concerto in C major
• Op. 7 No. 4 – Violin Concerto in F major
• Op. 7 No. 5 – Violin Concerto in A minor
• Op. 7 No. 6 – Violin Concerto in A major
• Op. 8 – Récréation de musique in G minor
• Op. 9 No. 1 – Violin Sonata in A major
• Op. 9 No. 2 – Violin Sonata in E minor
• Op. 9 No. 3 – Violin Sonata in D major
• Op. 9 No. 4 – Violin Sonata in A major
• Op. 9 No. 5 – Violin Sonata in A minor
• Op. 9 No. 6 – Violin Sonata in D major
• Op. 9 No. 7 – Violin Sonata in G major
• Op. 9 No. 8 – Violin Sonata in C major
• Op. 9 No. 9 – Violin Sonata in E flat major
• Op. 9 No. 10 – Violin Sonata in F sharp minor
• Op. 9 No. 11 – Violin Sonata in G minor
• Op. 9 No. 12 – Violin Sonata in G major
• Op. 10 No. 1 – Violin Concerto in B flat major
• Op. 10 No. 2 – Violin Concerto in A major
• Op. 10 No. 3 – Violin Concerto in D major
• Op. 10 No. 4 – Violin Concerto in F major
• Op. 10 No. 5 – Violin Concerto in E minor
• Op. 10 No. 6 – Violin Concerto in G minor
• Op. 11 – Scylla et Glaucus, an opera with a prologue and five acts (first performed in 1746)
• Op. 12 No. 1 – Sonata for 2 violins in B minor
• Op. 12 No. 2 – Sonata for 2 violins in E major
• Op. 12 No. 3 – Sonata for 2 violins in D major
• Op. 12 No. 4 – Sonata for 2 violins in A major
• Op. 12 No. 5 – Sonata for 2 violins in G minor
• Op. 12 No. 6 – Sonata for 2 violins in B flat major
• Op. 13 No. 1 – Ouvertura for 2 violins & continuo in G major
• Op. 13 No. 2 – Trio for 2 violins & continuo in D major
• Op. 13 No. 3 – Ouvertura for 2 violins & continuo in D major
• Op. 13 No. 4 – Trio for 2 violins & continuo in B minor
• Op. 13 No. 5 – Ouvertura for 2 violins & continuo in A major
• Op. 13 No. 6 – Trio for 2 violins & continuo in G minor
• Op. 14 – Trio for 2 violins & continuo in A major
• Op. 15 – Violin Sonata in F major

See also

• List of unsolved mysteries

In Spanish: Jean-Marie Leclair para niños

Images for kids

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  A portrait of Jean-Marie Leclair.