Lacépède, Bernard Germaine Etiènne Médard de la Villesur-Illon, Count of

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Lacépède, Bernard Germaine Etiènne Médard de la Villesur-Illon, Count of

Lacépède, Bernard Germaine Etiènne Médard de la Villesur-Illon, Count of, French naturalist, music theorist, and composer; b. Agen, Dec. 26, 1756; d. Epinay-sur-Seine, Oct. 6, 1825. He studied composition in Agen and Bordeaux while pursuing his interest in science; later he studied music with Gossec. He served as director of the Jardin des Plantes and became highly regarded as a naturalist. Among his compositions were 5 operas, incidental music to Fénelon’s Télémaque (1785), 2 syms., a Requiem, and chamber music. His writings on music included Réflexions sur les progrès que la musique a encore à faire (MS; ed. by R. du Page in Le Figaro, Dec. 19, 1925) and La poétique de la musique (Paris, 1785; 3rd ed., 1797). His Oeuvres complètes appeared in Paris (1826).

Bibliography

Mahorault, Notice sur la vie et les ouvrages de M. L. (Paris, 1825).

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire