André-Joseph Blavier (baptized 29 December 1713 – 30 November 1782)
[ was a Flemish composer, and director of the choir of Antwerp Cathedral.
]
Life
Blavier was born in Liège
Liège ( , , ; wa, Lîdje ; nl, Luik ; german: Lüttich ) is a major city and municipality of Wallonia and the capital of the Belgian province of Liège.
The city is situated in the valley of the Meuse, in the east of Belgium, not far from b ...
, and was appointed music master there at St Peter's Church. In 1737 he was chosen to succeed Joseph-Hector Fiocco
Joseph-Hector Fiocco (20 January 1703 – 21 June 1741), born in Brussels, was a composer and harpsichordist of the late Baroque period.
His father, the Italian composer Pietro Antonio Fiocco, and one of his older step-brother Jean-Joseph Fio ...
at Antwerp Cathedral, directing and training the cathedral choir.[Bertil H. Van Boer. ''Historical Dictionary of Music of the Classical Period'']
Scarecrow Press, 2012. Page 86.
He sang with a tenor voice, and played keyboard, violin and cello. Among his compositions was a Mass in D, for four voice parts with string accompaniment, dedicated to the chapter in 1741; this work has survived. A member of the cathedral choir in his charge was the future composer François-Joseph Gossec
François-Joseph Gossec (17 January 1734 – 16 February 1829) was a French composer of operas, string quartets, symphonies, and choral works.
Life and work
The son of a small farmer, Gossec was born at the village of Vergnies, then a French exc ...
.[
Unable to marry under the terms of his employment, Blavier left the cathedral on his marriage, and in 1768 became singing teacher at St Andrew's Church in Antwerp. He died in 1782, predeceased by several of his children and his wife, and was buried at St Andrew's Church.][
]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blavier, André-Joseph
1713 births
1782 deaths
Prince-Bishopric of Liège musicians
Flemish composers
Classical composers of church music