André Maugars
Encyclopedia
André Maugars was a French viol player. Marin Mersenne
and Nicolas Hotman
described him as the first French viol virtuoso, in particular, improviser of diminution
s.
In about 1620, he went to England and remained there for four years. He was probably in the service of James I of England
in his court orchestra. After his return, he published a French translation of the Francis Bacon
's letter Advancement of learning (1605). First he worked as a translator at the French court, later for the Cardinal Richelieu. This made him in 1630 the Prior of the Monastery St. Pierre-Eynac in Le Puy-en-Velay
. In 1634, he published a translation of another Bacon's letter Considerations Touching on a War with Spain. In 1637 or in the next years, he travelled to Rome. Following this trip, he wrote an open letter published in Paris about his experiences from his Italian trip. This letter is a valuable historical musical testimony about the contemporary Italian church music, oratories and instrumental works in comparison with the French music of the 17th century.
Marin Mersenne
Marin Mersenne, Marin Mersennus or le Père Mersenne was a French theologian, philosopher, mathematician and music theorist, often referred to as the "father of acoustics"...
and Nicolas Hotman
Nicolas Hotman
Nicolas Hotman was a Baroque composer, who spent most of his career in France. He is believed to have been from Germany, but was probably born in Brussels. He came with his family to Paris around 1626....
described him as the first French viol virtuoso, in particular, improviser of diminution
Diminution
In Western music and music theory, diminution has four distinct meanings. Diminution may be a form of embellishment in which a long note is divided into a series of shorter, usually melodic, values...
s.
In about 1620, he went to England and remained there for four years. He was probably in the service of James I of England
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
in his court orchestra. After his return, he published a French translation of the Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans, KC was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist, author and pioneer of the scientific method. He served both as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England...
's letter Advancement of learning (1605). First he worked as a translator at the French court, later for the Cardinal Richelieu. This made him in 1630 the Prior of the Monastery St. Pierre-Eynac in Le Puy-en-Velay
Le Puy-en-Velay
Le Puy-en-Velay is a commune in the Haute-Loire department in south-central France.Its inhabitants are called Ponots.-History:Le Puy-en-Velay was a major bishopric in medieval France, founded early, though its early history is legendary...
. In 1634, he published a translation of another Bacon's letter Considerations Touching on a War with Spain. In 1637 or in the next years, he travelled to Rome. Following this trip, he wrote an open letter published in Paris about his experiences from his Italian trip. This letter is a valuable historical musical testimony about the contemporary Italian church music, oratories and instrumental works in comparison with the French music of the 17th century.
External links
- A. Maugars: Response to an Inquisitive Person on the Italian Feeling about Music from C. MacClinton: Readings in the history of music in performance on Google Books