Jean Baptiste Édouard Du Puy
Encyclopedia
Jean Baptiste Édouard Louis Camille Du Puy (1770April 3, 1822) was a Swiss
-born singer, composer, director and violinist. He lived and worked in Copenhagen and Stockholm from 1793 until his death in 1822.
, Canton of Neuchâtel
, Switzerland
, around the year 1770, although sources differ on the exact year. From the age of four, he was raised by his uncle, a city musician in Geneva
, whose last name Edouard later took. Seeing that his nephew had talent, the uncle made sure that Edouard became a musician of education.
In 1786, Du Puy was sent to Paris
, where he was taught to play the piano
by Jan Ladislav Dussek
, and the violin by François Chabran. In 1789, he was appointed concertmaster
at the court of Heinrich of Prussia
in Rheinsberg
, replacing J. A. P. Schulz
, who was called to Denmark as a choir director at the Royal Danish Orchestra
(Danish: Det Kongelige Kapel). Du Puy worked in Rheinsberg for four years while studying harmonies
under Carl Friedrich Christian Fasch.
, Poland
and Sweden
as a violinist. While in Stockholm, he was appointed to the royal chapel
, and later also as an opera singer at the Royal Swedish Opera
. During hits period, he also had an affair with Sophie Hagman
In 1799, he fell out of favor with king Gustav IV
of Sweden by praising Napoleon. Du Puy was banished from Sweden, and traveled to Copenhagen.
In the beginning, Du Puy made his living by tutoring in music, and gave a concert at the Royal Danish Theatre
on March 29, 1800, playing among other things a concerto for violin that he himself had composed. After this, he was quickly made concertmaster at the royal chapel, and in 1802, opera singer. Du Puy was a very successful opera singer, e.g. starring as Don Giovanni
in Mozart's
opera
. Meanwhile, he still performed elsewhere both as a singer, violinist and director. His compositions were popular, especially the singspiel
Youth and Folly, and a number of songs written for various plays.
Among his other activities, Du Puy was one of the directors of the most esteemed social clubs in Copenhagen at the time called The Harmony (Danish: Harmonien). In 1801, he joined the voluntary royal guard (Danish: Livjægerkorpset), and was made lieutenant
in 1807 during the Battle of Copenhagen
against the British
during the Napoleonic Wars
. As lieutenant, Du Puy could no longer perform on stage, but continued as concertmaster, violinist and giving singing lessons.
Charlotte Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (Ludwigslust
, December 4, 1784 – Rome
, July 13, 1840). She was married to Crown Prince
Christian VIII
, and mother of King Frederick VII of Denmark
. Prince Christian divorced his wife and sent her into internal exile
in Horsens
, while Du Puy was banished from Denmark.
Although Du Puy applied for amnesty, it was of no use, and he left his family and traveled to Stockholm, where king Gustav IV
had been deposed by a coup. In 1812, Du Puy was reinstated at the opera both as actor and Kapellmeister
. Among other roles, he played Figaro in The Marriage of Figaro
by Mozart. By 1795, Du Puy was a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music
, and became titular professor in 1814.
was performed in Sweden for the first time.
As a violinist, Du Puy had a virtuous style, with a firm intonation
and sense of music. His voice was a light baritone
, but he could also sing as a tenor
, bass
or even falsetto
. He was also an acclaimed director and Kapellmeister. The Swedish Royal Chapel was one of Europe's best orchestras at the time, and Du Puy is mentioned as on of its best Kapellmeisters. His compositions are light, melodious and lively.
Choreographer for the Royal Danish Ballet
, August Bournonville
, made the ballet
Livjægerne på Amager in 1871 to Du Puy's honor, about his life and using some of his compositions
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
-born singer, composer, director and violinist. He lived and worked in Copenhagen and Stockholm from 1793 until his death in 1822.
Early years
Édouard Du Puy was born in Corcelles-CormondrècheCorcelles-Cormondrèche
Corcelles-Cormondrèche is a municipality in the district of Boudry in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland.-History:Corcelles-Cormondrèche is first mentioned in 1092 as Curcellis. Around 1220 it was mentioned as Cormundreschi.-Geography:...
, Canton of Neuchâtel
Canton of Neuchâtel
Neuchâtel is a canton of French speaking western Switzerland. In 2007, its population was 169,782 of which 39,654 were foreigners. The capital is Neuchâtel.-History:...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, around the year 1770, although sources differ on the exact year. From the age of four, he was raised by his uncle, a city musician in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, whose last name Edouard later took. Seeing that his nephew had talent, the uncle made sure that Edouard became a musician of education.
In 1786, Du Puy was sent to 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...
, where he was taught to play the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
by Jan Ladislav Dussek
Jan Ladislav Dussek
Jan Ladislav Dussek was a Czech composer and pianist. He was an important representative of Czech music abroad in the second half of 18th century and the beginning of 19th century...
, and the violin by François Chabran. In 1789, he was appointed concertmaster
Concertmaster
The concertmaster/mistress is the spalla or leader, of the first violin section of an orchestra. In the UK, the term commonly used is leader...
at the court of Heinrich of Prussia
Prince Henry of Prussia
Frederick Henry Louis , commonly known as Henry , was a Prince of Prussia. He also served as a general and statesman, and, in 1786, was suggested as a candidate for a monarch for the United States....
in Rheinsberg
Rheinsberg
Rheinsberg is a town and a municipality in the Ostprignitz-Ruppin district, in Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated on the river Rhin, approx. 20 km north-east of Neuruppin and 75 km north-west of Berlin.-History:...
, replacing J. A. P. Schulz
Johann Abraham Peter Schulz
Johann Abraham Peter Schulz was a German musician and composer. Today he is best known as the composer of the melody for Matthias Claudius's poem "Der Mond ist aufgegangen" and the Christmas carol "Ihr Kinderlein kommet".-Life:Schulz attended the Michaelis School from 1757 to 1759 and then the...
, who was called to Denmark as a choir director at the Royal Danish Orchestra
Royal Danish Orchestra
The Royal Danish Orchestra is a Danish orchestra based in Copenhagen. The Danish name for the orchestra indicates its original function as an ensemble geared to supplying the music for court events...
(Danish: Det Kongelige Kapel). Du Puy worked in Rheinsberg for four years while studying harmonies
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
under Carl Friedrich Christian Fasch.
Stockholm and Copenhagen
Still in his early twenties, in 1793 Du Puy traveled in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
as a violinist. While in Stockholm, he was appointed to the royal chapel
Kungliga Hovkapellet
Kungliga Hovkapellet , is a Swedish orchestra and was located at the Royal Court in Sweden's capital Stockholm. It was first recorded in 1526. Since 1773 it is part of the Royal Swedish Opera's company....
, and later also as an opera singer at the Royal Swedish Opera
Royal Swedish Opera
Kungliga Operan is Sweden's national stage for opera and ballet.-Location and Environment:...
. During hits period, he also had an affair with Sophie Hagman
Sophie Hagman
Sophie Hagman née Anna Stina Hagman or Anna Sophia Hagman, , was a Swedish ballet dancer...
In 1799, he fell out of favor with king Gustav IV
Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden
Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden also Gustav Adolph was King of Sweden from 1792 until his abdication in 1809. He was the son of Gustav III of Sweden and his queen consort Sophia Magdalena, eldest daughter of Frederick V of Denmark and his first wife Louise of Great Britain. He was the last Swedish...
of Sweden by praising Napoleon. Du Puy was banished from Sweden, and traveled to Copenhagen.
In the beginning, Du Puy made his living by tutoring in music, and gave a concert at the Royal Danish Theatre
Royal Danish Theatre
The Royal Danish Theatre is both the national Danish performing arts institution and a name used to refer to its old purpose-built venue from 1874 located on Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen. The theatre was founded in 1748, first serving as the theatre of the king, and then as the theatre of the...
on March 29, 1800, playing among other things a concerto for violin that he himself had composed. After this, he was quickly made concertmaster at the royal chapel, and in 1802, opera singer. Du Puy was a very successful opera singer, e.g. starring as Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni is an opera in two acts with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and with an Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It was premiered by the Prague Italian opera at the Teatro di Praga on October 29, 1787...
in Mozart's
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
opera
Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni is an opera in two acts with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and with an Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It was premiered by the Prague Italian opera at the Teatro di Praga on October 29, 1787...
. Meanwhile, he still performed elsewhere both as a singer, violinist and director. His compositions were popular, especially the singspiel
Singspiel
A Singspiel is a form of German-language music drama, now regarded as a genre of opera...
Youth and Folly, and a number of songs written for various plays.
Among his other activities, Du Puy was one of the directors of the most esteemed social clubs in Copenhagen at the time called The Harmony (Danish: Harmonien). In 1801, he joined the voluntary royal guard (Danish: Livjægerkorpset), and was made lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in 1807 during the Battle of Copenhagen
Battle of Copenhagen (1807)
The Second Battle of Copenhagen was a British preemptive attack on Copenhagen, targeting the civilian population in order to seize the Dano-Norwegian fleet and in turn originate the term to Copenhagenize.-Background:Despite the defeat and loss of many ships in the first Battle of Copenhagen in...
against the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
during the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
. As lieutenant, Du Puy could no longer perform on stage, but continued as concertmaster, violinist and giving singing lessons.
Banishment and return to Sweden
Du Puy had fathered a child during his time in Rheinsberg, but when he came to Copenhagen, he married Anna Louise Frederikke Müller in 1803, and had several affairs. He allegedly also had an affair with PrincessPrincess
Princess is the feminine form of prince . Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or his daughters....
Charlotte Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (Ludwigslust
Ludwigslust
Ludwigslust is a town in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, 40 km south of Schwerin. It was the capital of the former district of Ludwigslust, and is part of the district Ludwigslust-Parchim since September 2011.-History:...
, December 4, 1784 – Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, July 13, 1840). She was married to Crown Prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
Christian VIII
Christian VIII of Denmark
Christian VIII , was king of Denmark from 1839 to 1848 and, as Christian Frederick, king of Norway in 1814. He was the eldest son of Hereditary Prince Frederick of Denmark and Norway and Sophia Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, born in 1786 at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen...
, and mother of King Frederick VII of Denmark
Frederick VII of Denmark
Frederick VII was a King of Denmark. He reigned from 1848 until his death. He was the last Danish monarch of the older Royal branch of the House of Oldenburg and also the last king of Denmark to rule as an absolute monarch...
. Prince Christian divorced his wife and sent her into internal exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
in Horsens
Horsens
Horsens is a Danish city in east Jutland. It is the site of the council of Horsens municipality. The city's population is 53,807 and the Horsens municipality's population is 82,835 ....
, while Du Puy was banished from Denmark.
Although Du Puy applied for amnesty, it was of no use, and he left his family and traveled to Stockholm, where king Gustav IV
Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden
Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden also Gustav Adolph was King of Sweden from 1792 until his abdication in 1809. He was the son of Gustav III of Sweden and his queen consort Sophia Magdalena, eldest daughter of Frederick V of Denmark and his first wife Louise of Great Britain. He was the last Swedish...
had been deposed by a coup. In 1812, Du Puy was reinstated at the opera both as actor and Kapellmeister
Kapellmeister
Kapellmeister is a German word designating a person in charge of music-making. The word is a compound, consisting of the roots Kapelle and Meister . The words Kapelle and Meister derive from the Latin: capella and magister...
. Among other roles, he played Figaro in The Marriage of Figaro
The Marriage of Figaro
Le nozze di Figaro, ossia la folle giornata , K. 492, is an opera buffa composed in 1786 in four acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, based on a stage comedy by Pierre Beaumarchais, La folle journée, ou le Mariage de Figaro .Although the play by...
by Mozart. By 1795, Du Puy was a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music
Royal Swedish Academy of Music
The Royal Swedish Academy of Music or Kungl. Musikaliska Akademien, founded in 1771 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden...
, and became titular professor in 1814.
Death and legacy
Du Puy died in his fifties on April 3, 1822, while in Sweden. He was buried in the Johannes cemetery in Stockholm, where the Royal Swedish Academy of Music raised a monument in his honor in 1866. At his funeral, Mozart's RequiemRequiem (Mozart)
The Requiem Mass in D minor by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was composed in Vienna in 1791 and left unfinished at the composer's death. A completion by Franz Xaver Süssmayr was delivered to Count Franz von Walsegg, who had anonymously commissioned the piece for a requiem Mass to commemorate the...
was performed in Sweden for the first time.
As a violinist, Du Puy had a virtuous style, with a firm intonation
Intonation (music)
Intonation, in music, is a musician's realization of pitch accuracy, or the pitch accuracy of a musical instrument. Intonation may be flat, sharp, or both, successively or simultaneously.-Interval, melody, and harmony:...
and sense of music. His voice was a light baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
, but he could also sing as a tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
, bass
Bass (voice type)
A bass is a type of male singing voice and possesses the lowest vocal range of all voice types. According to The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, a bass is typically classified as having a range extending from around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C...
or even falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
. He was also an acclaimed director and Kapellmeister. The Swedish Royal Chapel was one of Europe's best orchestras at the time, and Du Puy is mentioned as on of its best Kapellmeisters. His compositions are light, melodious and lively.
Choreographer for the Royal Danish Ballet
Royal Danish Ballet
The Royal Danish Ballet is one of the oldest ballet companies in the world. Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, it originates from 1748, when the Royal Danish Theatre was founded, and was finally organized in 1771 in response to the great popularity of French and Italian styles of dance...
, August Bournonville
August Bournonville
August Bournonville was a Danish ballet master and choreographer. August was the son of Antoine Bournonville, a dancer and choreographer trained under the French choreographer, Jean Georges Noverre, and the nephew of Julie Alix de la Fay, née Bournonville, of the Royal Swedish Ballet.August was...
, made the ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
Livjægerne på Amager in 1871 to Du Puy's honor, about his life and using some of his compositions
Selected works
- Youth and Folly (Ungdom og Galskap), a successful singspielSingspielA Singspiel is a form of German-language music drama, now regarded as a genre of opera...
of 1806 - Requiem in C minor (organPipe organThe pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
1807) - Föreningen (play 1815)
- Agander och Pagander (play 1818)
- Balder (1819)
- Felicie or Den romaneska flickan (comical opera 1821)
- Björn Jernsida (unfinished opera)
- Festen för den gamle generalen (ballet)
- Violin Concerto in C major
- Violin Concerto in D minor
- Violin Concerto in E major
- Concerto for 2 violins
- Bassoon Concerto in C minor
- Flute Concerto in D minor
- Clarinet Concerto
- Fagot Concerto
- Blowhorn Concerto
- Quartet No. 2 for strings
- Quintet in C minor for strings
- Quintet in A minor for fagot and strings
- Introduktion und Polonaise: für Klarinette und Klavier
- Duets for violin
- 12 contra danceContra danceContra dance refers to several partnered folk dance styles in which couples dance in two facing lines...
for piano - Horn quartet
- 6 quartets for 2 tenorTenorThe tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
s og 2 bassesBass (voice type)A bass is a type of male singing voice and possesses the lowest vocal range of all voice types. According to The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, a bass is typically classified as having a range extending from around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C...