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Tier 3 · vertical & regionalfull biography
François Francoeur
Person · male · France · Paris · born 1698 · died 1787 · recording since 2002
French composer and violinist
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Also known as François Francoeur · François Francœur · 弗朗索瓦·弗朗科爾
Timeline
7 events▣ Album 4◦ Birth 1† Death 1★ Debut release 1
1690s
1780s
2000s
· Debut release
Debut release: 4 Sonates pour violon et basse continue
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
2010s
Biography
English biography1,001 words · 9 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1362640374
Biography
François Francœur (21 September 1698 – 5 August 1787) was a French composer and violinist from the late Baroque era and the Classical era.
Biography
François Francœur was born in Paris, the son of Joseph Francœur, a basse de violon player and member of the 24 violons du roy. Francœur was instructed in music by his father and joined the Académie Royale de Musique as a violinist at age 15. After travel and performances in the principal European culture centres, he returned to Paris as a member of the Concert Spirituel. Francœur was appointed to the 24 violons du roy in 1730 and Maître de musique (music instructor) to the Opera in 1739.
In 1744, he and François Rebel, his lifelong colleague and friend, were appointed inspecteurs musicaux (music directors) of the Paris Opéra—centre of the French music world—becoming responsible for all phases of its management in 1757. Rebel and Francœur faced numerous challenges in their joint roles, including a large financial deficit, lack of discipline, as well as handling contentious disagreements between traditionalists who favored French operatic tragedies and its mythological themes versus partisans of Italian opera's simpler lyricism and contemporary subject matter, known as the Querelle des Bouffons.
King Louis XV appointed Francœur as his Music Master in 1760, ennobling Rebel in the same year and Francœur himself in May 1764. Disaster struck when the Paris Opéra was consumed in flames on 6 April 1763, and the two directors were forced to resign in 1767 in its aftermath. However, Louis XV asked Rebel to return to the Opéra as Administrateur général in 1772, a position he held until shortly before his death three years later. Francœur resigned himself from the music world, living in retirement until his own death in 1787 at age 89. He was thus spared the fate of his nephew, Louis-Joseph Francœur, Master of the King's Chamber music and orchestra director, who was imprisoned during the French Revolution until the fall of Maximilien Robespierre in 1794.
Compositions
His surviving compositions, published in Propyläen der Musik, V. 2 (1989), include two books of violin sonatas, 10 operas (including one about the life of Skanderbeg) and some ballets, created jointly with François Rebel. Thus he is often quoted as a relatively rare case of collaboration in musical composition.
Forgeries and misattribution
A cello sonata in E from 1726 in is often incorrectly attributed to Francœur starting from Jean-Delphin Alard's 1863 error. The sonata was actually written originally for violin by François's brother, Louis Francœur instead. Additionally, Arnold Trowell published the sonata as a forgery in 1924 in which he removed Louis's second movement and replaced it with a Allegro Vivo movement of Trowell's own creation.
Griffiths (2012) finds his forged movement more Italian than French in style even though it is 'skillfully' written and finds similarities between it and Daniel van Goens's Scherzo (Op. 12) as well as Trowell's own Scherzo (Op. 12 No. 2). Although not an outright replacement, Trowell also significantly altered the final Gigue movement as well while keeping Louis Francœur's original harmony. The first, third, and fourth movements were not changed in the Trowell publication.
Fritz Kreisler, an Austrian contemporary of Trowell, also forged his Sicilienne and Rigaudon composition under François Francœur's name.
Recordings
Recordings of Francœur's works include a noteworthy LP, Music for the Wedding of the Count d'Artois, on the Musical Heritage label, and the Cypres CD 1626 Suites de Simphonies, including what may be the same set of works by Francœur. Hugo Reyne and La Simphonie du Marais also recorded the Symphonies pour le Festin Royal du Comte d'Artois. The opera Pirame et Thisbé, a collaborative work with Rebel, was released in 2008, and Zélindor, Roi des Sylphes and Le Trophée were released in 2009.
There is a 2003 recording of Francœur's Sonata in E for Cello and Piano on Delos by Zuill Bailey which is of the Trowell forgery (see above section).
Musicological and stylistic notes
Special emphasis is placed on the above recordings for musicological as well as aesthetic reasons. In the transition from ages relatively little interested in earlier music (19th and early 20th century) to an age where a professional specialization in "ancient music" has arisen, composers like Francœur, who had relatively modest instrumental production or did not in other ways attract special professional attention, have often remained in obscurity. It is easy to see from Francœur's inventiveness and infectious rhythmic drive why he was esteemed in his lifetime. Had Louis XVI had him as a music instructor earlier in his life, instead of, as biographers suggest, a musical mediocrity who chilled his interest in the violin, he might have become a royal composer like Frederick the Great of Prussia.
Francœur is sometimes categorised amongst the "Classical-era" composers who avoided the "classical style of Haydn and Mozart". The surviving music of Francœur (supposedly composed close to 1773), though contemporary with that of Haydn and Mozart, shows relatively few of the courtly mannerisms that abound in classical music directly sponsored by royalty. Rather, it has more of an "advanced Rococo" character, spicing strings with creative use of wind instruments. This kind of music seems to have been especially favoured by the rising bourgeoisie and lesser aristocracy in mercantile centres like London, Hamburg, and Frankfurt, as well as Paris, who provided an increasing market for musical composition.
Operas (with François Rebel)
Pirame et Thisbé, tragédie en musique (1726)
Tarsis et Zélie, tragédie en musique (1728)
Scanderberg, tragédie en musique (1735), 33 performances
Le ballet de la paix, ballet héroïque (1738)
Les Augustales, divertissement (1744)
Zélindor, roi des sylphes, divertissement (1745)
Le trophée, divertissement (1745)
La félicité, ballet héroïque (1746)
Ismène, pastorale héroïque (1747)
Le prince de Noisy, ballet héroïque in 3 acts, libretto by Charles-Antoine Leclerc de La Bruère, f.p. Versailles, Théâtre des petits appartements, (1749)
Les génies tutélaires, divertissement (1751)
Instrumental music
Premier Livre de sonates à violon seul et basse continue (1720)
Deuxième Livre de sonates à violon seul et basse continue (1730)
Symphonies pour le festin royal du comte d'Artois (1773)
La symphonie du Marais
Other works
Le retour du roi, 'dialogue chanté' (1745)
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 17 | 76.4th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 4 | 78.1th |
| Studio albums | 4 | 82.8th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 7 | 82.6th |
| Recording span (years) | -215 | 3th |
| Genres | 5 | 88.3th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (4 release groups · 4 studio albums)
Albums · 4
4 Sonates pour violon et basse continue
2002 · studio album
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Tracklist · 19 tracks · 1:08:54
1Sonate no. VI en sol mineur : Adagio3:152Sonate no. VI en sol mineur : Allemande3:453Sonate no. VI en sol mineur : Courante2:354Sonate no. VI en sol mineur : Sarabande3:015Sonate no. VI en sol mineur : Rondeau7:116Sonate no. XII en mi majeur : Adagio3:487Sonate no. XII en mi majeur : Courante6:488Sonate no. XII en mi majeur : Sicilienne6:359Sonate no. XII en mi majeur : Rondeau3:2410Sonate no. X en ré majeur : Adagio2:3311Sonate no. X en ré majeur : Allemande3:0412Sonate no. X en ré majeur : Adagio1:1313Sonate no. X en ré majeur : Gavotte2:0514Sonate no. X en ré majeur : Rondeau2:4315Sonate no. VII en ré mineur : Adagio2:1316Sonate no. VII en ré mineur : Allemande4:2817Sonate no. VII en ré mineur : Rondeau2:5818Sonate no. VII en ré mineur : Sarabande4:2419Sonate no. VII en ré mineur : Rondeau2:51Amans, voulez-vous être heureux ?
2005 · studio album
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Tracklist · 23 tracks · 1:11:58
1Sonate en mi mineur pour violon & basse continue : Adagio4:272Sonate en mi mineur pour violon & basse continue : Courente4:083Sonate en mi mineur pour violon & basse continue : Sarabande4:034Sonate en mi mineur pour violon & basse continue : Rondeau3:385Sonate en mi mineur pour violon & basse continue : « Fureur, Amour, secondés mon impatience »4:186Sonate en La majeur pour violon & basse continue : Adagio2:217Sonate en La majeur pour violon & basse continue : Allegro3:248Sonate en La majeur pour violon & basse continue : Pastourelle2:189Sonate en La majeur pour violon & basse continue : « L’Amour fait naître nos désirs »2:3810Sonate en La majeur pour violon & basse continue : Gay2:4611Sonate en La majeur pour violon & basse continue : « Loin de nos cœurs les tristes plaintes »3:0312Sonate en La majeur pour violon & basse continue : « Vole de victoire en victoire… »3:5813Sonate en La majeur pour violon & basse continue : « Splendete, luci belle »5:0514Sonate en ré mineur pour violon & basse continue : Adagio2:3215Sonate en ré mineur pour violon & basse continue : Allemande4:2916Sonate en ré mineur pour violon & basse continue : « Que dans ce séjour, nos transports paroissent »2:0317Sonate en ré mineur pour violon & basse continue : Sicilienne3:3418Sonate en ré mineur pour violon & basse continue : « Lance tes traits, Amour »2:1419Sonate en ré mineur pour violon & basse continue : Rondeau2:3620Sonate en ré mineur pour violon & basse continue : Adagio0:3521Sonate en ré mineur pour violon & basse continue : « D’un tendre Amour, ne craignez rien »1:0222Sonate en ré mineur pour violon & basse continue : « Amans, voulez-vous être heureux ? »2:4823Sonate en ré mineur pour violon & basse continue : Gay3:58Zélindor, roi des Sylphes / Suite from Le Trophée
2009 · studio album
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Tracklist · 24 tracks · 1:01:32
1Zélindor, roi des Sylphes: Ouverture3:122Zélindor, roi des Sylphes: Scène 1. "Un souverain Génie" (Zulim, Zélindor)6:573Zélindor, roi des Sylphes: Scène 2. "Pourquoi me refuser le plaisir de vous voir" (Zirphé, Zélindor)5:234Zélindor, roi des Sylphes: Scène 3. Prélude / "Que vois-je?" (Zirphé)0:575Zélindor, roi des Sylphes: Scène 3. Air pour les Nymphes1:336Zélindor, roi des Sylphes: Scène 3. "Il faut que tout seconde" Chœur)1:367Zélindor, roi des Sylphes: Scène 3. Air. "Sur vos pas, par quel charme admirable" (Une Nymphe)2:518Zélindor, roi des Sylphes: Scène 3. Passepied1:559Zélindor, roi des Sylphes: Scène 3. "C'en est assez" (Zirphé, Zélindor, Une Nymphe)7:4910Zélindor, roi des Sylphes: Scène 4. Prélude pour les Génies elementaires1:2811Zélindor, roi des Sylphes: Scène 4. Air pour les Gnomes et Ondins1:1012Zélindor, roi des Sylphes: Scène 4. Air pour les Sylphes et Salamandres1:2613Zélindor, roi des Sylphes: Scène 4. "Que dans les airs" (Zélindor, Chœur)2:0014Zélindor, roi des Sylphes: Scène 4. Air gai1:1115Zélindor, roi des Sylphes: Scène 4. Menuet I / "Quel amant sous vos lois s'engage!" (Une Sylphide) / Menuet II / "Vos destins changent leur cours" (Chœur, Une Sylphide))5:0416Zélindor, roi des Sylphes: Scène 4. - Bourées I et II / Reprise de l'air gai2:4017Suite "Le Trophée": Ouverture2:5718Suite "Le Trophée": Sarabande1:2219Suite "Le Trophée": Gavottes I et II1:5720Suite "Le Trophée": Ariette "Ornez de fleurs vos têtes" (La Muse)2:5321Suite "Le Trophée" - Gavotte pour les Muses et les Plaisirs (Le Génie)2:0822Suite "Le Trophée": Viste / Prélude0:4423Suite "Le Trophée": Airs I et II1:0024Suite "Le Trophée": Fanfare1:1910 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1
2018 · studio album
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Tracklist · 45 tracks · 2:04:06
Disc 1110 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 1 in G Major: I. Adagio3:03210 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 1 in G Major: II. Courante2:33310 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 1 in G Major: III. Sarabande1:33410 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 1 in G Major: IV. Gavotte2:44510 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 1 in G Major: V. Gigue3:07610 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 2 in E Minor: I. Adagio2:12710 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 2 in E Minor: II. Allemande2:45810 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 2 in E Minor: III. Sarabande2:58910 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 2 in E Minor: IV. Rondeau2:191010 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 2 in E Minor: V. Presto3:051110 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 4 in B Minor: I. Adagio2:421210 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 4 in B Minor: II. Courante3:551310 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 4 in B Minor: III. Sarabande2:481410 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 4 in B Minor: IV. Gigue2:281510 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 4 in B Minor: V. Gavotte1:091610 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 6 in E Major: I. Adagio1:561710 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 6 in E Major: II. Allemande3:271810 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 6 in E Major: III. Sarabande1:531910 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 6 in E Major: IV. Gavotte2:112010 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 6 in E Major: V. Gigue2:432110 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 9 in A Major: I. Adagio2:502210 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 9 in A Major: II. Courante4:122310 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 9 in A Major: III. Adagio2:012410 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 9 in A Major: IV. Gigue3:01Disc 2110 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 7 in D Minor: I. Adagio2:18210 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 7 in D Minor: II. Allemande. Marqué3:13310 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 7 in D Minor: III. Rondeau2:19410 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 7 in D Minor: IV. Sarabande2:24510 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 7 in D Minor: V. Rondeau. Gay3:28610 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 5 in C Minor: I. Allemande. Allegro4:19710 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 5 in C Minor: II. Adagio3:38810 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 5 in C Minor: III. Gavotte1:30910 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 5 in C Minor: IV. Presto4:041010 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 3 in B‐Flat Major: I. Allemande. Adagio2:571110 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 3 in B‐Flat Major: II. Allemande3:061210 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 3 in B‐Flat Major: III. Sarabande2:411310 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 3 in B‐Flat Major: IV. Rondeau en muzette2:141410 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 8 in F Minor: I. Adagio2:551510 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 8 in F Minor: II. Courante2:531610 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 8 in F Minor: III. Adagio1:061710 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 8 in F Minor: IV. Rondeau2:241810 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 10 in G Major: I. Allemande. Adagio3:371910 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 10 in G Major: II. Allegro3:142010 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 10 in G Major: III. Sicillienne3:112110 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1, No. 10 in G Major: IV. Presto3:00
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put François Francoeur head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 17 | 76.4th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 4 | 78.1th |
| Studio albums | 4 | 82.8th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 7 | 82.6th |
| Recording span (years) | -215 | 3th |
| Genres | 5 | 88.3th |
Awards & honours
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Portrait_pr%C3%A9sum%C3%A9_de_Fran%C3%A7ois_Francoeur.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/4e028468-4222-4c94-8cfc-9f2f220177f3discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/4e028468-4222-4c94-8cfc-9f2f220177f3core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1396905genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1396905seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_Francoeurbiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_Francoeur
Why this artist is in the database
- List of composers by name
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: Auger Lucas · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q1396905 · MusicBrainz: 4e028468-4222-4c94-8cfc-9f2f220177f3
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