La Barre, Michel de
La Barre, Michel de
La Barre, Michel de, significant French flutist and composer; b. c. 1675; d. 1743 or 1744. He became a musician at the Académie Royale de Musique about 1700, where he was active until 1721. He also played in the Musettes et Hautbois de Poitou (1704–30) and in the royal chamber music. La Barre was held in high esteem as both a flutist and composer. His first book of solo suites for transverse flute and basso continuo (Paris, 1702) was the earliest book ever publ. of solo pieces for the flute. He also introduced suites for 2 unaccompanied flutes to France (13 books, Paris, 1709-25). Among his other works were the ballet Le triomphe des arts (Paris, May 16, 1700), the comédie-ballet La vénitiennes (Paris, May 26, 1705), and songs.
—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire