Antoine Mahaut (1719-c.1785) - Concerto à cinque en Re mineur
Performers: Baudoin Giaux (flute); Camerata Leodiensis; Hubert Schoonbroodt (1941-1992, conductor)
Painting: George Barret (c.1730-1784) - View in a Park
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Flemish flautist and composer. Born into a family of musicians, he
probably studied with his father (a flautist) before entering the
service of the Bishop of Strickland at the age of 15. In 1735, according
to Moret, Mahaut travelled with the bishop's entourage to London where
he met John Walsh, who subsequently published his Six Sonatas or Duets.
On his return to Namur in 1737 he served the wife of Walter de Colijaer,
then moved to Amsterdam (in 1739, according to Gerber), where he worked
as a performer and teacher. On 20 July 1751 Mahaut obtained a privilege
permitting him to publish his own works. He visited Dresden, Augsburg
and Paris as well as returning regularly to Namur. His acquaintance with
the flautist P.-G. Buffardin in Dresden resulted in the dedication of
six trio sonatas and possibly two concertos. About 1760 Mahaut settled
in Paris. Although Gerber suggests that Mahaut later fled his creditors
by retiring to a French monastery, he probably returned to teach in
Namur. Mahaut's compositions were published extensively during his
lifetime, and his flute method was published simultaneously in French
and Dutch (it was announced in the Mercure de France in January 1759)
and twice reprinted (1762, 1814). It marked a considerable advance on
the methods of Jacques Hotteterre, Michel Corrette and Quantz,
particularly with regard to technique; it was the only work of its time
to distinguish between the French and Italian ways of executing the
trill and appoggiatura. Mahaut's sonatas combine Italian sonata
structure and instrumental figuration with French dance rhythms and
ornamentation. His flute concertos demand a first-rate technique and
show the influence of P.A. Locatelli (who was also living in Amsterdam)
in their use of violinistic phrasing such as slurred staccato; they also
display galant and early classical traits. According to Moret, Mahaut
was the composer of the two ‘beautiful instrumental symphonies’ which
he, his brother and his friend Bailleux performed for the Prince of
Gavre in Namur in 1744. Between 1751 and 1752 Mahaut was also the editor
of, and principal contributor to, Maendelyks musikaels tydverdryf, a
series of italianate songs in Dutch.
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