Marin Marais was the one of the finest bass viol player in
France during the latter part of the 17th century and early decades
of the 18th. Titon du Tillet included him in his famous Le Parnasse françois, and Hubert Le
Blanc admiringly reflected on Marais has having "founded and firmly established
the empire of the viol." As a composer, he is best remembered today for roughly
six-hundred compositions for the viol, arranged in the French tradition of collections
of various pieces, as opposed to concertos and sonatas. Among these many
compositions are dances, fantasies, rondeaux, and pieces de caractère. It is for these
latter pieces, which employ descriptive titles, that he is credited as one of
the earliest composers of program music. Besides his voluminous output for the
viol, Marais also composed four operas—Alcide
(1693), Ariane et Bacchus (1696),
Alcyone (1706), and Sémélé (1709)—which were apparently
quite successful. Alycone is noted
for its tempest scene and was staged as late as 1771.
Despite the recognition of his music, little is known of
Marais's life. He was born in Paris on May 31, 1656. He studied viol with
Sainte-Colombe and composition with Jean-Baptiste Lully, who likely encouraged
Marais in the composition of his operas. He became a musician at the royal
court of Versailles in 1676, as well as married Catherine d'Amicourt that same
year. Three years later, in 1679, he was named ordinaire de la chamber du roy pour la viole. He held this position
until his retirement in 1725. Marais died in Paris on August 15, 1728.
Marin Marais
Biography
Marin Marais was the one of the finest bass viol player in France during the latter part of the 17th century and early decades of the 18th. Titon du Tillet included him in his famous Le Parnasse françois, and Hubert Le Blanc admiringly reflected on Marais has having "founded and firmly established the empire of the viol." As a composer, he is best remembered today for roughly six-hundred compositions for the viol, arranged in the French tradition of collections of various pieces, as opposed to concertos and sonatas. Among these many compositions are dances, fantasies, rondeaux, and pieces de caractère. It is for these latter pieces, which employ descriptive titles, that he is credited as one of the earliest composers of program music. Besides his voluminous output for the viol, Marais also composed four operas—Alcide (1693), Ariane et Bacchus (1696), Alcyone (1706), and Sémélé (1709)—which were apparently quite successful. Alycone is noted for its tempest scene and was staged as late as 1771.
Despite the recognition of his music, little is known of Marais's life. He was born in Paris on May 31, 1656. He studied viol with Sainte-Colombe and composition with Jean-Baptiste Lully, who likely encouraged Marais in the composition of his operas. He became a musician at the royal court of Versailles in 1676, as well as married Catherine d'Amicourt that same year. Three years later, in 1679, he was named ordinaire de la chamber du roy pour la viole. He held this position until his retirement in 1725. Marais died in Paris on August 15, 1728.