Joseph Bodin de Boismortier (1689–1755) was a prolific French Baroque composer known for writing music for a wide amateur audience and becoming one of the first composers to achieve great wealth without the support of a patron. His work encompasses instrumental music, cantatas, opéra-ballets, and vocal pieces. 

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--- Early Life & Career --- 

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Early years and education: Born in Thionville, France, in 1689, Boismortier received his musical training in Metz from the motet composer Joseph Valette de Montigny.

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Move to Paris: After holding a post in the Royal Tobacco Control office in Perpignan, Boismortier moved to Paris in 1724 to begin his full-time career as a composer

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First independent composer: He secured a royal license to engrave and publish his own music for sale to the public. He was extremely popular and successful, publishing over 100 works in just over two decades and amassing a fortune

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Catering to the public: He skillfully met the public's demand for tuneful, technically accessible music. This market-driven approach, though it earned him envy from the musical establishment, was highly profitable

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--- Musical Significance & Style --- 

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Boismortier's music incorporates both the French and Italian styles of the time, and he is credited with popularizing Italian instrumental forms, such as the concerto, in France. He was an innovator, writing the first French solo concerto (for cello, viol, or bassoon) and some of the earliest unaccompanied concertos for multiples of the same instrument (e.g., five flutes). He was known for composing for a variety of instruments, including the popular transverse flute, for which he wrote numerous sonatas. 

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--- Major Works --- 

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Stage Works: 

Les voyages de l'amour (opéra-ballet, 1736) ---> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsErw9kRbRQ

Don Quichotte chez la Duchesse (comic ballet, 1743) ---> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knGy6jLzsq0

Daphnis et Chloé (pastorale, 1747) ---> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYJfhrEhgi4

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Instrumental Music: 

Concertos: Six Concertos for Five Flutes, Op. 15 (1727)

Sonatas: Many sonatas for flute, bassoon, and viols, including Six Sonatas for Flute and Harpsichord, Op. 91

Suites: Numerous suites for various instruments, including solo flute and harpsichord

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Vocal Works: 

Les quatre saisons (cantatas, 1724)

Les gentillesses (cantatilles, short cantatas)​

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--- Family --- 

 

Joseph Bodin de Boismortier was married to Marie Valette, and together they had at least one daughter.

 

Wife: Marie Valett

Marriage: He married Marie Valette on November 7, 1720. 

Connection to his mentor: Marie was the daughter of a wealthy goldsmith named Guillaume Valette. She was also a relative of Boismortier's music teacher, Joseph Valette de Montigny. This connection likely played a role in his career, as he followed his teacher to Perpignan and then moved to Paris with Marie in 1724 to begin his successful publishing career

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Daughter: Suzanne Bodin de Boismortier

Legacy: Boismortier's daughter, Suzanne Bodin de Boismortier, became a playwright and novelist

Family business: After her father's death, she continued to sell his musical compositions

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--- Death ---  

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Joseph Bodin de Boismortier died on October 28, 1755, at the age of 65.

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His final years and burial details: 

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Retirement: In 1753, he retired from the Parisian music scene, having grown weary of the Querelle des Bouffons, a debate between the proponents of French versus Italian musical traditions

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Estate: He moved to a small property he owned, called La Gâtinellerie, in the village of Roissy-en-Brie, outside Paris

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Burial: Boismortier was buried in the nave of the local parish church in Roissy-en-Brie, as he had requested

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His death came after a successful and financially prosperous career as one of the first composers to live off his compositions without a patron.

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