Jean Joseph de Mondonville
Jean-Joseph Cassanea de Mondonville (December 25, 1711, Narbonne - October 8, 1772, Paris) was a violinist and a composer. His first opus was a volume of instrumental music, in Paris (Sonates), published in 1733. He appeared as a violinist at the Concert Spirituel in 1734, then took a post with the Concert de Lille. Returning to Paris in 1739, he became a violinist of the royal chapel and chamber and performed in some 100 concerts; some of his grands motets were also performed that year due to considerable acclaim. He was appointed sous-maître in in 1740 and then intendant in 1744 of the royal chapel. He produced operas and grands motets for the Opéra and Concert spirituel, respectively, and was associated with the Théatre des Petits-Cabinets, all the while, maintaining his career as a violinist throughout the 1740s. Today, Mondonville is best known for his works, Pièces de clavecin en sonates(op. 3, 1734) and Pièces de clavecin avec voix ou violon(op. 5, 1748). His operas were quite successful in their time; they include Le carnaval du Parnasse(Paris, 1749), Titon et I'Aurore(Paris, 1753), and Thésée (1765).
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