A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Rousselot, Scipion

ROUSSELOT, Scipion, was born about the commencement of this century, entered the Conservatoire at Paris as a pupil of Baudiot on the cello, and took the first prize in 1823. He then studied composition under Reicha, and on Feb. 9, 1834, produced a symphony of his composition at the concert of the Conservatoire; he also attempted opera, but was not happy in that department, though he is said to have rendered important assistance to Bellini in the instrumentation and harmonious arrangement of 'I Puritani.' His quartets, quintets, variations for the cello, and other chamber music, were much esteemed and played in Paris. In 1844 or 45, Rousselot came to England; he took the cello at the Musical Union concerts of the latter year. He was one of the party with Vieuxtemps, Sivori, Sainton, and Hill, who performed the whole of Beethoven's quartets at the house of Mr. Alsager, in a series of meetings beginning April 28, 1845, and a prime mover in that memorable undertaking, which introduced Beethoven's later quartets to England. After Mr. Alsager's death early in 1847, Rousselot carried on the performances at his own risk, under the name of the 'Beethoven Quartet Society'; and on May 4, 1847, gave a concert to Mendelssohn of his own works—the Quartet in D op. 44, no. i; the Trio in C minor, op. 66; and the Ottet, op. 20; Mendelssohn himself playing Beethoven's 32 ^[1]variations, besides joining in the Trio, etc. Rousselot was deservedly popular in London, not only with the public but with his fellow artists; but the increasing admiration for Piatti's superior playing withdrew attention from him, in 1848 or 1849 he returned to Paris, where he has since led a very retired life. While in London he started a musical publishing business in Regent Street, but it did not succeed. His brother, Joseph François, a horn-player of great note, was born Feb. 6, 1803. He also was a pupil of the Conservatoire, specially under Daupret, and obtained the first prize in 1823. He has belonged to all the principal orchestras of Paris, lived for many years at Argenteuil, and died there in Sept. 1880.

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1. Mendelssohn played without book, and left out Var. 30. in 3-4, as he admitted afterwards to Mr. J. W. Davison.