Virtuoso series No. 2
Jacques-Martin Hotteterre "Le Romain"
Hello my dear flutists,
You may notice that I decided to switch to English, a least for some articles. This is solely for more people to be able to learn about the flute and its origins.
Today we are going to get to know the next in line for our Virtuoso series, where we remember all those before us, who left a great mark in the world of the flute, Jacques Hotteterre.
You may recognize his name from some of the earliest posts I wrote.
Jacques-Martin Hotteterre "Le Romain" (1674.- 1763., French musician, teacher, and musical-instrument maker) was born in Paris, in a family of woodwind-makers and performers. Most of the details of Hotteterre's life are uncertain. He was one of the sons of Martin Hotteterre and Marie Crespy. He may have held a post in the royal music as basse de hautbois de violon from 1689. to 1692., or perhaps the "Jacques Hotteterre" named in this post was a relative with the same name, who was previously employed at the English court.
His nickname, "Le Romain", is presumed to be a result of his journey to Italy. He lived in Rome early in his career and spent two years working for Prince Francesco Ruspoili (an important figure in the world of Roman merchants).
By 1708. Hotteterre was a bassoonist (or bass oboist) in the Grande Ecurite, a renowned ensemble.
Besides being a multi-instrumentalist, he used to teach wealthy amateurs, as well as being a maker of flutes and musettes.
Hotteterre's Principes de la flute traversiere
One of his most famous works is Principes de la flute traversiere (1707.), which is the first known essay on flute-playing. In it, you can find instructions for playing the recorder and oboe, as well as the flute. This treatise proved to be a valuable source of information regarding early techniques used in performance on woodwinds, such as tonguing and ornamentation. His later work continues to the first one with directions for improvising woodwind preludes, a practical manual for musette performers, and a variety of compositions such as duet suites and trio sonatas.
Hotteterre's  L'Art de preluder sur la flute traversiere
His second essay L'Art de preluder sur la flute traversiere (1719.) includes an important discussion of possible metric changes and rhythmic devices for the transverse flute, as well as directions in which manner should, preludes, and practice studies, be improvised.
Hotteterre also composed two books of pieces (suites) for flute and basso continuo, a book of trio sonatas, and three suites for two unaccompanied flutes or other instruments. He was noted as a participant in court performances in 1720. and 1721., and in 1743. was included in a list of the most famous musicians in France. He married Marie Geneviève Charpentier on 31 March 1728.; the couple had six children.
Unfortunately, that is all I could find, for now. If you have any more questions or you just want to know a bit more, please contact me.
That is all for today,
until next time
yours
LB <3