Marin Marais

Classical Music / Composers Datebook: May 31

French Composer Marin Marais

Marin Marais (31 May 1656 – 15 August 1728), was born and died in Paris. He is said to have brought viola da gamba playing to the highest level of perfection. He was a French composer and viol player who often conducted his own opera.  He studied composition with Jean-Baptiste Lully, and with master of the bass viol Monsieur de Sainte-Colombe for few months.

In 1676, he was hired as a musician to the royal court of Versailles.  Three years later, in 1679, he was appointed "ordinaire de la chambre du roy pour la viole", a title he kept until 1725.

A master of the basse de viol, and the leading French composer of music for the instrument, Marais wrote five books of Pieces de viole (1686-1725) for the instrument, generally suites with basso continuo. His books were popular in the court in his day, and he was remembered in later years as the founder of the viol." His other works include a book of Pièces en trio (1692) and four operas (1693-1709), and Alcyone (1706).

Like his composition teacher Lully, Marais was an Italian music opponent, being committed to the French baroque music, chamber music in particular.

In 1725, Marais retired and devoted himself to gardening, but continued teaching.

 

Resource:

The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, edited by Stanley Sadie, 2nd Edition. MacMillan Publishers, 2001.