André Philidor

Pieces de Trompettes et Timbales

The 52 'Pieces for Trumpets and Kettledrums' date from 1685. Their titles recall the great court spectacles, with placenames like Versailles, Fontainebleau, Vincennes, L'Orangerie, Le Palais Royal, Les Thileries etc. In those days it was also customary to name pieces after people; here, by way of example, we have the 'Lorange', the nickname of a Grande Ecurie trumpeter, Benigne Guillot, and the 'Beaupré', the nickname of Antoine Pelissier (both these trumpeters are listed in the register of accounts 1677-1705). The pseudonym of Benoit Coulanet, 'Trumpeter and King's Officer' like his two colleagues, serves as a title to the Lamarche.