Cardon, Jean-Baptiste

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Cardon, Jean-Baptiste

Cardon, Jean-Baptiste, French harpist, teacher, and composer; b. Mons, South Netherlands, 1760; d. St. Petersburg, March 11, 1803. He was the son of the violinist and composer Jean-Baptiste (actually, Jean-Guillain) Cardon (b. Mons, Jan. 18, 1732; d. Versailles, Oct. 18, 1788). He was taken by his family to Paris when he was about a year old. While still a young man, he acquired a notable reputation as a harp teacher. In the wake of the French Revolution, he went to Russia and served as harpist to the royal family and as a theater musician (1790–93). Among his works were symphonies concertantes, a Harp Concerto, chamber music, and solo harp pieces. His works for the harp proved influential.

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire