Joseph Bodin de Boismortier Archives

Joseph Bodin de Boismortier

Joseph Bodin de Boismortier
prisant du tabac

Joseph Bodin de Boismortier (1689 – 1755) was probably the first free-lance composer in history. He started life as a duty collector for the régie royale des tabacs in Perpignan. During this time he published two drinking songs. With increasing recognition of his music, he moved to Paris where he received his first royal permission to publish music in 1724.

During his lifetime he was criticized as being too “commercial”, and profiting from the tastes of the day for music which was technically undemanding, graceful, and which was playable by amateurs. With an excess of 100 opus numbers to his credit, Boismortier’s reply to his critics was “I make money”.

Boismortier was responsible for introducing the Italian term Concerto into French music. The music of his concertos is very Italianate, with the composer abandoning the heavily ornamented French style of the period.

Showing all 3 results

Price range: £3.75 through £7.50
Boismortier: 6 Concertos Op. 38 (1732)
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Price range: £4.00 through £8.00
Boismortier: Concerto Op. 15/2 in C minor
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Price range: £4.00 through £8.00
Boismortier: Concerto Op. 15/5 in C major
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

Joseph Bodin de Boismortier

Boismortier: 6 Concertos Op. 38 (1732)

Boismortier: Concerto Op. 15/2 in C minor

Boismortier: Concerto Op. 15/5 in C major