Joseph Bodin De Boismortier

Baroque French Composer and Flutist

Joseph Bodin de Boismortier was a French baroque composer, born in 1689 in Thionville and died in 1755. He was prolific, with a large body of work that included vocal music, chamber music, and orchestral pieces. Boismortier was one of the first composers to have no patrons: instead, he capitalized on the growing market for sheet music in the 18th century. His music was extremely popular due to its appealing melodies and easy accessibility for amateur musicians. He was also innovative in writing for a wide range of instruments, including many of the newly developed woodwinds of his time. Boismortier's opus includes ballets, cantatas, concertos, sonatas, and suites, which reflect the tastes and trends of the Rococo period. His ability to compose in a variety of forms with both skill and commercial success made him one of the most successful composers of his era.