FRANCOEUR, François

Born in Paris, Sept 21, 1698
Died in Paris, Aug 5, 1787

[frahn-swah frahn-keur]

• François Francoeur was part of a family of French string players who were employed by the Musique de la Chambre du Roy and the Paris Opera during the 18^th Century.
• François Francoeur is known as le cadet (“the youngest”). He studied violin with his father, Joseph Francoeur (“Francoeur père”), and began working as a violinist with Musique de la Chambre du Roy at the age of 12. In 1727, he gained the title of compositeur de la chambre du roi, and in 1730, he joined his father and brother as a member of the 24 Violons du Roy.
• François Francoeur frequently collaborated with his friend François Rebel, first by composing operas together and later by co-directing the Paris Opéra. The two worked together so much that the Parisian public considered them as a single artistic unit.¹

Biography

1. Michelle Fillion, Catherine Cessac, and Lois Rosow, “Francoeur family,” Grove Music Online (2001) http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000043019.