Senallié, Jean-Baptiste (EN)

Senallié, Senallier, Senaillé, Senaillié, Senaillier, Jean-Baptiste, *23 November 1687 Paris, †15 October 1730 Paris, French violinist and composer. He was the son of Jean Senallié, a violinist in the 24 Violons du Roi ensemble. He studied with J.-B. Anet the younger and probably with T.A. Vitali in Modena. From 1713 until the end of his life (with a break between 1717–20) he was a member of the 24 Violons du Roi. In 1717 he travelled to Italy and until 1719 stayed at the court in Modena. In 1720 he returned to Paris. In 1728 Senallié and J.-M. Leclair the elder were engaged as virtuosos by the administration of the Concert Spirituel, although Senallié soon lost this opportunity for wider fame. In Paris he was very active as a teacher and trained many French violinists.

Senallié belonged to the large group of early 18th-century French composers who adapted Italian violin models, mainly those of A. Corelli, into French music. They played an important role in the development of the French violin school. Senallié adopted from Corelli the four-movement sonata cycle in the pattern slow–fast–slow–fast. Drawing on the courtly sonata da camera, he often gave individual movements, especially in his early works, the character of French dances. His violin sonatas were very popular in Paris thanks to their graceful melodic style, mostly lively and refined rhythm, and clear texture; only occasionally did he use fugal writing. Many sonatas are of moderate technical difficulty. Among advanced violin techniques, he employed, among others, higher positions; especially his third collection contains more complex technical demands.

Literature: A.L. Kish Jean-Baptiste Senallié. His Life, his Time and his Music, 2 vols., dissertation at Bryn Mawr College (Pennsylvania), 1964 (includes all collections of Senallié’s sonatas).