PHILIDOR, ANDR

born c. 1647 died Aug. 11, 1730, Dreux, France original family name Danican, byname L'an musician and composer, an outstanding member of a large and important family of musicians long connected with the French court. The first recorded representatives of the family were Michel Danican (died c. 1659), upon whom the nickname Philidor (the name of a famous Italian musician) was bestowed by Louis XIII as a complimentary reference to his skill, and Andr's father Jean (died 1679), who, like Michel, played various instruments in the Grande curie, the king's band. Andr and his brothers, Jacques, called "le Cadet" (died 1708), and Alexandre, whose birth and death dates are unknown, also played in the royal band. Andr distinguished himself as a performer in Louis XIV's chamber and chapel and composed several divertissements, or opra ballets, for royal entertainment, as well as marches, fanfares, and similar music. Further, as keeper of the royal music library from 1684, he collected hundreds of volumes of dances, operas, sacred music, songs, marches, and other music from the time of Henry III onward; a large part of this invaluable collection survives. Andr and Jacques each had children who carried on the family tradition, the most important being Andr's son Franois-Andr Philidor (q.v.), noted as a composer and Chess player. Another son of Andr, Michel, whose birth and death dates are unknown, a drummer in the Grande curie, is said to have worked with the instrument builder Jacques Hotteterre (q.v.) in the invention of the oboe.