A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Travenol, Louis

TRAVENOL, Louis, a violin-player, born in Paris in 1698, might be allowed to go down to oblivion in his native obscurity but for his accidental connection with Voltaire. He entered the opera band in April 1739, and remained there till 1759, when he retired on a pension of 300 francs a year. In 1783 he died. The title of one of his numerous pamphlets (all more or less of the same querulous ill-natured bilious tone), 'Complainte d'un musicien opprimé par ses camarades'—complaint of an ill-used musician—throws much light on his temper, and justifies Voltaire in suspecting him of having had a hand in circulating some of the lampoons in which his election to the Académie Francaise (May 9, 1746) was attacked. Voltaire, however, seems to have made the double mistake of having Travenol arrested without being able to prove anything against him, and of causing his father, an old man of 80, to be imprisoned with him. The affair was brought before the Parlement, and after a year's delay, Voltaire was fined 500 francs. A shower of bitter pamphlets against him followed this result. (See Fétis; and Carlyle's 'Friedrich' Bk. xvi. chap. 2.)

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