Philidor

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Philidor [Danican]. Fr. family of musicians over several generations, c.1600–1800. Best-known was François André (b Dreux, 1726; d London, 1795), famous as composer (pupil of Campra) and as chess-player. Visited London annually to play chess from 1745 and heard Handel's operas. Settled in Paris 1754, composing successful comic operas, e.g. Tom Jones and L'amant déguisé. His father, André (b Versailles, c.1647; d Dreux, 1730) played ob., crumhorn, and bn. and was composer. Compiled (1684–1730) coll. of Fr. court mus. from reign of Henri III to end of 17th cent., some of which is in Versailles Municipal Library, and a large part, formerly at St Michael's College, Tenbury, is now in the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris.

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Philidor

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