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John LoeilletEnglish composer, harpsichordist, flautist and oboist of Belgian origin.
Date of Birth: 18.11.1680
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Biography of John Loeillet
- Family Background
- Early Musical Education
- Move to London and Musical Career
- Legacy and Death
Biography of John Loeillet
Early Life and FamilyJohn Loeillet, also known as Jean-Baptiste Loeillet of London, was an English composer, harpsichordist, flutist, and oboist of Belgian origin. He was born on November 18, 1680, in Ghent, which was then part of the Spanish Netherlands under the rule of the Spanish branch of the House of Habsburg. To distinguish him from his cousin and namesake, Jean-Baptiste Loeillet of Ghent, another Belgian composer, his name is usually followed by "of London".
Family Background
John Loeillet came from a family of musicians. His father, Jean Baptiste François Loeillet, was a physician and a wealthy man. His uncle, Pierre Loeillet, was a renowned violinist in Ghent and took care of the musical education of John and his younger brother, Jacques Loeillet. Jacques, also a composer, was born in 1685 and died in 1748.
Early Musical Education
Growing up in a musical household, John Loeillet began studying music from an early age. He received training in playing the harpsichord, flute, oboe, and also mastered the art of playing the harp. It is worth noting that John Loeillet is sometimes mistaken for another musician, Jean-Baptiste de Lully or Giovanni Battista di Lulli, a French composer of Italian origin who led the orchestra at the court of King Louis XIV. This confusion arises from the fact that during his English period, our Jean-Baptiste occasionally signed his name as John Lully or John Lullie, and this mix-up has persisted for three centuries.
Move to London and Musical Career
In 1705, after completing his education in Ghent and Paris, John Loeillet moved to London, where he gained fame and recognition as a harpsichordist and a teacher of this demanding instrument. He performed on wind instruments at the famous Drury Lane and from 1708 to 1711 at The Queen's Theatre in Haymarket. Additionally, Loeillet held weekly musical evenings at his home, charging admission fees, which were eagerly paid by the audience despite the relatively high price. His performances were well-received in the critical city of London. It was Loeillet who introduced Londoners to the 12th concerto by Italian composer and violinist Arcangelo Corelli. Loeillet's performances greatly contributed to the popularization of the transverse flute, a new instrument compared to the harpsichord, in England.
Legacy and Death
John Loeillet passed away on July 19, 1730, in London. He left a significant inheritance, around 16,000 pounds, to his remaining relatives in Ghent, Belgium.
