Alard, (Jean-) Delphin

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Alard, (Jean-) Delphin

Alard, (Jean-) Delphin, distinguished French violinist, pedagogue, and composer; b. Bay orme, March 8, 1815; d. Paris, Feb. 22, 1888. He studied with Habeneck (premier prix in violin, 1830) and Fétis at the Paris Cons. In 1831 he made his debut with the Société des Concerts du Conservatoire in Paris. After pursuing a career as a soloist, he joined the royal orch. in 1840, becoming its solo violin in 1842. He held that same position with the imperial orch. from 1853. He was a prof. of violin at the Paris Cons. (1843–75). Among his pupils was Sarasate. In 1884 he gave his farewell concert. He publ. the valuable École du violin: Méthode complete et progressive (Paris, 1844), as well as Maîtres classiques du violin (Mainz, 1863), an anthology of 18th and 19th century music. Alard composed many brilliant works for violin, including concertos, études, and fantasias.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire