Eugène-Charles-Jean Godecharle (bapt. 15 January 1742 – 26 June 1798)[1] was a Belgian violinist and composer.
Eugène Godecharle | |
|---|---|
| Born | Eugène-Charles-Jean Godecharle January 1742 Brussels, Belgium |
| Died | 26 June 1798 (aged 56) Brussels, Belgium |
| Occupation(s) | Violinist and composer |
| Employer | Church of St Géry |
| Parent | Jacques-Antoine Godecharle (father) |
| Relatives | Lambert-François and Gilles-Lambert Godecharle (brothers) |
Family
editGodecharle was born in Brussels in 1742. His father, Jacques-Antoine Godecharle, was master of music in the church of St Nicholas, and bass singer at the court chapel of Prince Charles of Lorraine, governor of the Austrian Netherlands.[2] Eugène's brother Lambert-François was also a musician, replacing his father as master of music at St Nicholas; another brother was the sculptor Gilles-Lambert Godecharle.[3]
Career
edit
Eugène began in the Prince's choir: his father, noting his talent as a violinist, sent him to Paris for lessons.[2][4]
On his return to Brussels, he played viola in the chapel from 1773. On the death of Henri-Jacques de Croes, master of the court chapel, in 1786, Godecharle applied to replace him but failed; he became lead violin only in 1788. In 1776 he became master of music at the Church of St Géry in Brussels, remaining in the post until his death.[2][4]
Compositions
editGodecharle's publications include:[2]
- Sonatas for violin with basso continuo, op. 1
- Symphonie nocturne for strings, two oboes, two horns, piccolo and drum
- Six symphonies, for strings, two oboes and two horns
- Three sonatas for harp with violin accompaniment
- Three sonatas for piano with violin accompaniment, op. 5
He left in manuscript much church music.
References
edit- ^ Godecharle, Eugène Archived 2018-02-19 at the Wayback Machine Oxford Index.
- ^ a b c d Godecharle (Eugène-Charles-Jean) François-Joseph Fétis. Biographie universelle des musiciens et bibliographie générale de la musique.
- ^ . Biographie nationale de Belgique (in French). Vol. 7. p. 434 – via Wikisource.
- ^ a b . Biographie nationale de Belgique (in French). Vol. 7. p. 434 – via Wikisource.