La Barre (original name probably Chabanceau)

La Barre (original name probably Chabanceau), prominent family of French musicians:

(1) Pierre de la Barre , organist and composer; b. Paris (baptized), Jan. 27, 1592; d. there (buried), March 31, 1656. He was the son of the organist Pierre de la Barre (d. Jan. 12, 1600), who was active in Paris from 1567. His own career as an organist was fully established by 1611. By 1618 he was a member of the king’s chamber, by 1627 organist of the royal chapel and maître joueur d’epinette to the king, and by 1630 organist to the queen as well. About 1650 he founded the first concerts of sacred music in Paris at his home, where leading musicians of his day participated. La Barre was highly esteemed not only as an organist, but as a performer on the harpsichord and spinet as well. Three of his children became widely known musicians:

(2)Anne de la Barre , singer; b. Paris (baptized), July 3, 1628; d. before March 7, 1688. She was a principal singer at the French court before serving at the Swedish court (16527–54). After serving at the Danish court (1654–55), she was active again at the French court (1656–64). She also gave private performances for the king, serving as ordinaire of his chamber music (1661–86).

(3) Joseph de la Barre , organist and composer; b. Paris (baptized), May 21, 1633; d. before May 6, 1678. He became organist of the royal chapel upon his father’s death in 1656. In 1674 he received a benefice, the Benedictine abbey of St. Hilaire in the Carcassonne diocese. Thereafter he was known as L’abbé de la Barre. He publ. Airs à deux parties, avec les seconds couplets en diminution (Paris, 1669). The Mecure galant (Aug. 1678) publ. his air Dolorosi pensieri, which was greatly admired by the king. A number of his dances are included in MS collections.

(4) Pierre de la Bare , instrumentalist and composer; b. Paris (baptized), Oct. 18, 1634; d. before April 18, 1710. He appears to have entered the service of the king as a lutenist when he was only 10 years of age. From 1663 to at least 1708 he played the theorbo and the grosse basse de violon in the royal chapel. He also was in the service of the queen and the Duchess of Burgundy. In 1697 he was ennobled.

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire