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Scan 290
The story of the violin, 1904
6 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 238. See the scan on archive.org.
1Story of the Violin
3François Francour, and Baptiste Anet. The last-named was the first who tried and failed in the attempt to introduce into Paris the art and art principles of Corelli, whose pupil he was. The antagonism of the "twenty-four" drove him to Poland, where he died, an exile for his artistic convictions. Somewhat better fared his pupil, Baptiste Senaillé¹ (born 1687, died 1730), who had become imbued with Italian traditions during a several years' engagement at Modena. The same was the experience of the most important and greatest of early French violinists, Jean Marie Leclair —at least as far as outward immediate success is concerned. By his work and example he succeeded nobly in planting the best Italian art principles on French soil. Leclair was for two years a pupil of Somis in Turin. On his return to France the "twenty-four," as usual, objected to the introduction of unwelcome new ideas; but charitably, by way of compensation for his superior attainments, he was given an inferior position in the grand chorus of the opera, with a salary of four hundred and fifty francs, for which he was supposed to play in the ballet and accompany the chorus. After some years of drudgery in this position —unworthy of his talents—he resigned, and lived henceforth in retirement as teacher, and composer for his instrument. This excellent artist was assassinated in the streets of Paris on the evening of October 22nd, 1764. He was born in 1697, at Lyons. Many of
5¹ Also known by a charming little sonata published among Alard's Maîtres Classiques.
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