Philidor, André
Philidor, Danican Philidor, born Danican, Jacques, known as le Cadet, *5 May 1657 Paris, †29 May 1708 Versailles, French instrumentalist and composer, son of Jean and brother of André. Like other members of his family, he was employed in the royal musical ensembles: in 1667 in the Fifres et Tambours, in 1679 in the Cromornes et Trompettes Marines, and in 1682 in the Grands Hautbois du Roi. In 1683 he received the title ‘musicien ordinaire de la Chapelle’, where he played oboe and bassoon. In 1690 he became a violinist in the Musique de la Chambre. He was a highly regarded instrument maker, mainly of woodwind instruments, and composed motets, songs, dances, and occasional works. Of Jacques Philidor’s twelve children, four sons became musicians: Pierre; Jacques (*7 September 1686 Paris, †25 June 1709 Pamplona); François (*12 January 1695 Versailles, †27 October 1726 Paris); and Nicolas (*1 November 1699 Versailles, †8 September 1769 Versailles).
Literature: E.H. Fellowes The Philidor Manuscripts, “Music and Letters” XII, 1931; F. Waquet Philidor l’aîné, “Revue de Musicologie” LXVI, 1980; J.-F. and N. Dupont-Danican Philidor Les Philidor. Une dynastie de musiciens, Paris 1995; N. Dupont-Danican Philidor Les Philidor. Répertoire des oeuvres, généalogie, bibliographie, Paris 1997.