François Devienne

Instrumentalist, composer and teacher who played the flute and bassoon. Playing for the Paris opera he shortly became a member of The Loge Olympique after joining the freemasons and entering the service of Cardinal de Rohan. Concert performances were given for both the flute and bassoon and included some of Devienne's early compositions (Flute Concerto No. 1 and Bassoon Concerto No. 1). Returning to Paris, Devienne joined the Paris National Guard whose military band, The Free School of Music of the National Guard, developed into the National Institute of Music (1793) and the Paris Conservatoire (1795). Comic operas of Devienne were written and performed during the days up to and including the Revolution. The most successful opera performed during the Revolution was Devienne's "Les visitandines". "Nouvelle methode theorique et practique pour la flute" (The New Theroretical and Practical Method for the Flute) was written by Devienne in 1794 and included methods for playing the one-keyed flute, an articulation of proper practicing habits, and elementary and secondary flute duets. Devienne composed in a variety of genres including the aforementioned operas, concertos, quartets, trios, duos and sonatas. Melodies dominate the landscape of his music supported by secondary accompaniments. Instrumental works demand the technical abilities of the performer and early sonata structures took shape in his compositions. ~ Keith Johnson