Charles Dieupart
Encyclopedia
Charles Dieupart was a French
harpsichordist, violinist, and composer. Although he was known as Charles to his contemporaries, his real name may have been François. He was most probably born in Paris
, but spent much of his life in London
, where he settled sometime after 1702/3. A prominent member of the Drury Lane musical establishment, Dieupart was active both as composer and performer and actively participated in the musical life of the city. However, after about 1712 he earned his income mostly by teaching, and in his later years lived in poverty. He is best remembered today for a collection of six harpsichord suites which influenced Johann Sebastian Bach's English Suites.
is unknown. The earliest document to refer to the composer is his own Six Suittes de clavessin, published in Amsterdam
in 1701. He is next heard of on 11 February 1703 in London, when he performed Corelli's music at Drury Lane
with Gasparo Visconti. Dieupart settled in London and eventually became an important member of the Drury Lane musical establishment. He collaborated with playwright Peter Anthony Motteux
, composer Thomas Clayton
, and others; he also participated in performances of music by Italian composers such as Giovanni Battista Bononcini
and Domenico Scarlatti
.
In late 1707 Dieupart became involved in establishing an operatic project at the Queen's Theatre
in the Haymarket
, London. Although he evidently played a significant part in the project, he was dropped by the management after about a year, in late 1708. Dieupart tried organizing a series of concerts at York Buildings in 1711–12, but ended up giving only a few. After 1712 he was mostly active as a teacher, although his music was still performed in concerts until at least 1726, and he was apparently a regular member of the Drury Lane orchestra. Dieupart's last known public appearance was in 1724. According to music historian John Hawkins
, whose work is the most important source on Dieupart's biography, the composer died at a very advanced age and in poverty.
– courante
– sarabande
– gavotte
, and ending with either a menuet or a passepied
, and a gigue
as the final movement. Some of the movements are linked thematically. The music represents a highly successful synthesis of French, Italian and English styles, married with imaginative harmony. The same can be said about most of Dieupart's other music, which has been neglected in recent times. The suites were popular even during the composer's lifetime: they were reissued already in 1702, arranged for violin
or recorder
(voice flute and fourth flute) and basso continuo, and then 13 of the movements were published in London in 1705 as Select Lessons for the Harpsichord or Spinnett. Johann Sebastian Bach
copied all six suites sometime between 1709 and 1714, and was influenced by Dieupart's music, particularly in the famous English Suites. Dieupart's suites may have also inspired Nicolas Siret
, whose first book adopts the suite's initial opening as an example.
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
harpsichordist, violinist, and composer. Although he was known as Charles to his contemporaries, his real name may have been François. He was most probably born in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, but spent much of his life in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he settled sometime after 1702/3. A prominent member of the Drury Lane musical establishment, Dieupart was active both as composer and performer and actively participated in the musical life of the city. However, after about 1712 he earned his income mostly by teaching, and in his later years lived in poverty. He is best remembered today for a collection of six harpsichord suites which influenced Johann Sebastian Bach's English Suites.
Life
Details of Dieupart's early life and training are sketchy, and the reason for his emigration to EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
is unknown. The earliest document to refer to the composer is his own Six Suittes de clavessin, published in 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 1701. He is next heard of on 11 February 1703 in London, when he performed Corelli's music at Drury Lane
Drury Lane
Drury Lane is a street on the eastern boundary of the Covent Garden area of London, running between Aldwych and High Holborn. The northern part is in the borough of Camden and the southern part in the City of Westminster....
with Gasparo Visconti. Dieupart settled in London and eventually became an important member of the Drury Lane musical establishment. He collaborated with playwright Peter Anthony Motteux
Peter Anthony Motteux
Peter Anthony Motteux , born Pierre Antoine Motteux, was an English author, playwright, and translator...
, composer Thomas Clayton
Thomas Clayton (composer)
Thomas Clayton was an English violinist and composer. Like his father, William Clayton, he had been a member of The King's Musick at the court William III and then studied in Italy. He composed music for two English language operas which are known to have been professionally performed, Arsinoe,...
, and others; he also participated in performances of music by Italian composers such as Giovanni Battista Bononcini
Giovanni Battista Bononcini
Giovanni Battista Bononcini was an Italian Baroque composer and cellist, one of a family of string players and composers. His father, Giovanni Maria Bononcini , was a violinist and a composer.-Biography:...
and Domenico Scarlatti
Domenico Scarlatti
Giuseppe Domenico Scarlatti was an Italian composer who spent much of his life in the service of the Portuguese and Spanish royal families. He is classified as a Baroque composer chronologically, although his music was influential in the development of the Classical style...
.
In late 1707 Dieupart became involved in establishing an operatic project at the Queen's Theatre
Queen's Theatre
The Queen's Theatre is a West End theatre located in Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster. It opened on 8 October 1907 as a twin to the neighbouring Gielgud Theatre which opened ten months earlier. Both theatres were designed by W.G.R...
in the Haymarket
Haymarket
-United Kingdom:* Haymarket , street in Westminster, London* Newcastle Haymarket, section of Newcastle upon Tyne city centre, England** Haymarket bus station, bus station in Newcastle upon Tyne, above* Haymarket, Edinburgh, area of Edinburgh, Scotland...
, London. Although he evidently played a significant part in the project, he was dropped by the management after about a year, in late 1708. Dieupart tried organizing a series of concerts at York Buildings in 1711–12, but ended up giving only a few. After 1712 he was mostly active as a teacher, although his music was still performed in concerts until at least 1726, and he was apparently a regular member of the Drury Lane orchestra. Dieupart's last known public appearance was in 1724. According to music historian John Hawkins
John Hawkins (author)
Sir John Hawkins was an English author and friend of Dr Samuel Johnson and Horace Walpole. He was part of Johnson's various clubs but later left The Literary Club after a disagreement with some of Johnson's other friends. His friendship with Johnson continued and he was made one of the executors...
, whose work is the most important source on Dieupart's biography, the composer died at a very advanced age and in poverty.
Music
Dieupart's best known work is Six Suittes de clavessin (Amsterdam, 1701). As the title indicates, it contains six harpsichord suites. All of them are in seven movements, always beginning with the sequence ouverture – allemandeAllemande
An allemande is one of the most popular instrumental dance forms in Baroque music, and a standard element of a suite...
– courante
Courante
The courante, corrente, coranto and corant are some of the names given to a family of triple metre dances from the late Renaissance and the Baroque era....
– sarabande
Sarabande
In music, the sarabande is a dance in triple metre. The second and third beats of each measure are often tied, giving the dance a distinctive rhythm of quarter notes and eighth notes in alternation...
– gavotte
Gavotte
The gavotte originated as a French folk dance, taking its name from the Gavot people of the Pays de Gap region of Dauphiné, where the dance originated. It is notated in 4/4 or 2/2 time and is of moderate tempo...
, and ending with either a menuet or a passepied
Passepied
The passepied is a 17th- and 18th-century dance that originated in Brittany. The term can also be used to describe the music to which a passepied is set...
, and a gigue
Gigue
The gigue or giga is a lively baroque dance originating from the British jig. It was imported into France in the mid-17th century and usually appears at the end of a suite...
as the final movement. Some of the movements are linked thematically. The music represents a highly successful synthesis of French, Italian and English styles, married with imaginative harmony. The same can be said about most of Dieupart's other music, which has been neglected in recent times. The suites were popular even during the composer's lifetime: they were reissued already in 1702, arranged for violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
or recorder
Recorder
The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle. The recorder is end-blown and the mouth of the instrument is constricted by a wooden plug, known as a block or fipple...
(voice flute and fourth flute) and basso continuo, and then 13 of the movements were published in London in 1705 as Select Lessons for the Harpsichord or Spinnett. Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
copied all six suites sometime between 1709 and 1714, and was influenced by Dieupart's music, particularly in the famous English Suites. Dieupart's suites may have also inspired Nicolas Siret
Nicolas Siret
Nicolas Siret was a French baroque composer, organist and harpsichordist. He was born and died in Troyes, France, where he worked as organist in the Church of Saint Jean and the Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Paul...
, whose first book adopts the suite's initial opening as an example.
List of works
- Six suittes de clavessin (A, D, b, e, F, f) (Amsterdam, 1701)
- Instrumental arrangements published as Six suittes (Amsterdam, 1702)
- Thirteen individual movements published as Select Lessons for the Harpsichord or Spinnett (London, 1705)
- Songs in the New Opera, Call'd Love's Triumph, The Symphonys or Instrumental Parts in the Opera Call'd Love's Triumph (London, 1708)
- The Overture and Chaconne belonging to [...] the Opera of Thomyris (London, 1708; lost)
- Six Sonatas or Solos (G, a, e, B, g, F), for recorder and basso continuo (London, 1717)
- Sonata in D minor for oboe, strings and basso continuo
- Sonata (Ouverture) in E minor for strings
- Concerto in A minor for soprano recorder/flute/oboe, 2 oboes, bassoon, strings, and basso continuo
- Concerto in A major for violin, 2 oboes, bassoon, strings, and basso continuo
- Concerto in B major for 2 violins, 2 oboes, bassoon, strings, and basso continuo
- Concerto in E minor for 2 flutes, 2 horns, strings, and basso continuo
- Concerto in B minor for trumpet, 2 oboes, strings, and basso continuo
- miscellaneous keyboard pieces and 33 airs published in various collections