Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Barthélémon, François Hippolite

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1117887Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 03 — Barthélémon, François Hippolite1885John Alexander Fuller Maitland

BARTHÉLÉMON, FRANÇOIS HIPPOLITE (1741–1808), violinist, born at Bordeaux 27 July 1741, the son of a French officer and an Irish lady, adopted the profession of music at the instance of the Earl of Kelly, having been previously an officer in the Irish brigade. He studied the art of violin-playing on the continent, and came to England as a professional violinist in 1765. He was appointed leader of the opera band, and in the following year his opera, ‘Pelopida,’ was produced at the King's Theatre. In this year (1766) he married a singer, Miss Mary Young. In 1768 he was engaged by Garrick to compose the music for a burletta called ‘Orpheus,’ and in the same year brought out his opera, ‘Le fleuve Scamandre,’ in Paris. In 1770, he became leader at Vauxhall Gardens, a post which he held until 1776, when he went with his wife on a professional tour on the continent, returning in the following year, and apparently resuming his duties at Vauxhall. In 1784 he and his wife went to Dublin for a time. During some of Haydn's visits to London, 1791–1799, Barthélémon became intimate with him. Besides the works above mentioned the following compositions are ascribed to Barthélémon: Music for ‘The Enchanted Girdle’ and ‘The Judgment of Paris,’ 1768; for ‘The Election’ and ‘The Maid of the Oaks,’ 1774; for ‘Belphegor,’ 1778; and several chamber compositions. Burney speaks in glowing terms of Barthélémon's violin-playing, and especially of his manner of executing an adagio, which he calls ‘truly vocal.’ Barthélémon, who was a follower of Swedenborg, died 23 July 1808.

[Burney's Hist. of Music; Parkes's Musical Memoirs, i. 16, 94; Grove's Dictionary; Gent. Mag. 1808, ii. 662.]

J. A. F. M.

Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.17
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line

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329 ii 12 f.e. Barthélemon, F. H.: after 1808 insert He was a follower of Swedenborg