A point of encounter
1665—1729
Composer · Harpsichordist
France
Baroque
Also known as: Elisabeth Claude Jacquet de La Guerre
Overview
Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre grew up in a Parisian family of musicians and instrument makers. A harpsichordist and singer at the court of Louis XIV while still a child, she later taught and gave concerts in Paris. Her first published harpsichord book appeared in 1687, and her opera Céphale et Procris reached the Académie royale de musique in 1694. Her work also includes violin and trio sonatas, biblical and secular cantatas, and songs. This career crossed domestic, courtly and public musical settings in late seventeenth- and early eighteenth-century France.
[1][2]Cultural context
French court, Parisian concert and publishing life in the reign of Louis XIV.
Musical Language
Her catalogue brings together French harpsichord music and dramatic writing with sonatas and cantatas, genres associated with Italian practice. Céphale et Procris belongs to the French tragédie lyrique tradition. The CMBV catalogue also documents keyboard pieces intended for violin performance, showing how instrumental and vocal formats shared space within her working life.[1][3]
A point of encounter
A few paths into the music. Follow a recording, a score, or the composer’s catalogue.
01 / Catalogue
Enter through sung drama. The Opéra Royal archive introduces the 1694 opera and gathers the context of a later performance and recording, offering a route into Jacquet de La Guerre’s theatrical world.
Explore the opera and recording context — External website; opens in a new tabSelected works
1 / 1 · Selected Works — not a complete catalogue.
| Work | Year & catalogue | Forces & genre | Resources & verification |
|---|---|---|---|
Céphale et Procris | 1694 | Solo voices, chorus and instrumental ensemble Tragédie lyrique |
A dash indicates that a date has not been established in this selection. External resources may have access or regional conditions.
Research
Original editorial summaries, checked against the sources below. Linked catalogues and recordings remain with their publishers and archives.
Research institution
CMBV — Catherine Cessac, Catalogue de l’œuvre d’Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre: Introduction — External website; opens in a new tabResearch institution
CMBV PHILIDOR — JACQUET DE LA GUERRE, Élisabeth (1665–1729) — External website; opens in a new tabSpecialist resource
Opéra Royal de Versailles — Jacquet de la Guerre: Céphale et Procris — External website; opens in a new tabLast reviewed: