Carolus Hacquart
Encyclopedia
Carolus Hacquart was a composer, born c. 1640 in Bruges
, in present-day Belgium.
, lute and organ, most probably in his native town. Attracted by the growth of musical life of the rich citizens of the United Provinces
, he moved with his brother Philip to Amsterdam
in the early 1670s where both gained a living as free-lance musicians. He moved in 1679 to The Hague
, where he taught and organized concerts with the support of the elderly Constantijn Huygens
, who was the chief councillor of William III
, the future king of England. Thanks to Constantijn Huygens' recommendation of Hacquart to stadtholder
Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange
, Hacquart could organise weekly concerts in the famous Mauritshuis
. Hacquart was also an organist at the Old-Catholic church of The Hague.
To earn a living, Hacquart gave music classes to many wealthy patricians such as lawyers and other notables who made music in their spare time. One of his students was Willem Hoogendorp, the future mayor of Rotterdam
to whom he dedicated his sonatas Harmonia Parnassia. In 1686 Hacquart composed 12 suites under the title Chelys which he dedicated to two of his students, the lawyers Pittenius and Kuysten.
Little is known about his life after 1686. Based on the possible identification with a person with a similar name, it is believed that he had then moved to England. Hacquart died, possibly in 1701, according to The new Grove dictionary of music and musicians.
with the title De triomferende min ("Triumphant Love"). The opera was based on a text by Dirk Buysero which he wrote on the occasion of the Treaty of Nijmegen
of 1678. Unfortunately most of the music of this opera has to be considered lost.
Three other publications of his music have survived, his first published work: Cantiones Sacrae (religious pieces for vocal soloists, choir and instrumentalists which could be sung by both Catholics and Protestants, 1674), his second published work: Harmonia Parnassia (a collection of 10 sonatas for two or three violins and basso continuo, 1686), and his third published work: Chelys (1686). The work Chelys consists of 12 suites that can be performed by one viol
, two viols or one viol with a basso continuo
accompaniment. Hacquart's works are kept in the library of Durham Cathedral
, England.
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
, in present-day Belgium.
Life
Hacquart received his education, comprising Latin and composition as well as viola da gambaViol
The viol is any one of a family of bowed, fretted and stringed musical instruments developed in the mid-late 15th century and used primarily in the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The family is related to and descends primarily from the Renaissance vihuela, a plucked instrument that preceded the...
, lute and organ, most probably in his native town. Attracted by the growth of musical life of the rich citizens of the United Provinces
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
, he moved with his brother Philip to Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
in the early 1670s where both gained a living as free-lance musicians. He moved in 1679 to The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, where he taught and organized concerts with the support of the elderly Constantijn Huygens
Constantijn Huygens
Constantijn Huygens , was a Dutch Golden Age poet and composer. He was secretary to two Princes of Orange: Frederick Henry and William II, and the father of the scientist Christiaan Huygens.-Biography:...
, who was the chief councillor of William III
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
, the future king of England. Thanks to Constantijn Huygens' recommendation of Hacquart to stadtholder
Stadtholder
A Stadtholder A Stadtholder A Stadtholder (Dutch: stadhouder [], "steward" or "lieutenant", literally place holder, holding someones place, possibly a calque of German Statthalter, French lieutenant, or Middle Latin locum tenens...
Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange
Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange
Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange was sovereign Prince of Orange from 1618, on the death of his eldest half brother, Philip William, Prince of Orange,...
, Hacquart could organise weekly concerts in the famous Mauritshuis
Mauritshuis
The Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis is an art museum in The Hague, the Netherlands. Previously the residence of count John Maurice of Nassau, it now has a large art collection, including paintings by Dutch painters such as Johannes Vermeer, Rembrandt van Rijn, Jan Steen, Paulus Potter and Frans...
. Hacquart was also an organist at the Old-Catholic church of The Hague.
To earn a living, Hacquart gave music classes to many wealthy patricians such as lawyers and other notables who made music in their spare time. One of his students was Willem Hoogendorp, the future mayor of Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
to whom he dedicated his sonatas Harmonia Parnassia. In 1686 Hacquart composed 12 suites under the title Chelys which he dedicated to two of his students, the lawyers Pittenius and Kuysten.
Little is known about his life after 1686. Based on the possible identification with a person with a similar name, it is believed that he had then moved to England. Hacquart died, possibly in 1701, according to The new Grove dictionary of music and musicians.
Work
Hacquart is the composer of the first opera in the Dutch languageDutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
with the title De triomferende min ("Triumphant Love"). The opera was based on a text by Dirk Buysero which he wrote on the occasion of the Treaty of Nijmegen
Treaties of Nijmegen
The Treaties of Peace of Nijmegen were a series of treaties signed in the Dutch city of Nijmegen between August 1678 and December 1679...
of 1678. Unfortunately most of the music of this opera has to be considered lost.
Three other publications of his music have survived, his first published work: Cantiones Sacrae (religious pieces for vocal soloists, choir and instrumentalists which could be sung by both Catholics and Protestants, 1674), his second published work: Harmonia Parnassia (a collection of 10 sonatas for two or three violins and basso continuo, 1686), and his third published work: Chelys (1686). The work Chelys consists of 12 suites that can be performed by one viol
Viol
The viol is any one of a family of bowed, fretted and stringed musical instruments developed in the mid-late 15th century and used primarily in the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The family is related to and descends primarily from the Renaissance vihuela, a plucked instrument that preceded the...
, two viols or one viol with a basso continuo
Figured bass
Figured bass, or thoroughbass, is a kind of integer musical notation used to indicate intervals, chords, and non-chord tones, in relation to a bass note...
accompaniment. Hacquart's works are kept in the library of Durham Cathedral
Durham Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham is a cathedral in the city of Durham, England, the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Durham. The Bishopric dates from 995, with the present cathedral being founded in AD 1093...
, England.
External links
Selected discography
- Carolus Hacquart, Le maistre de musique, Ricercar Consort, CD Flora 0705 (2007)
- Carolus Hacquart, Cantiones & Sonate, Ensemble Clématis, with the soprano Céline ScheenCéline ScheenCéline Scheen is a Belgian operatic soprano.She began her vocal studies with Annie Frantz. In 1996, she entered the Royal Academy of Mons and obtained a First Prize in the class of Marcel Vanaud. She then received a degree in song and methodology of song at the Royal Academy of Brussels...
, CD Musica Ficta (2006) - Carolus Hacquart, Chelys - Guido Balestracci e.a., CD Symphonía (2004)