Guillaume-Antoine Calvière

Guillaume-Antoine Calvière was born in Paris around 1695, the son of Rodolphe Calvière and Jeanne Boundin.[1] He was a pupil of Philippe Isoré de La Fontaine, who spent his whole career until his death in 1733 as organist of Saint-Denis. Calvière was gifted and precocious, and made his first public performance at the age of eleven. Calvière's younger sister Cécile Louise Calvière, born in 1703, was also an organist.[1]

Calvière became organist of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in 1722, and in 1730 succeeded Maderic Corneille as organist at Notre Dame.[1] He became a national celebrity, and the Mercure published verses in his praise. He held the prestigious posts of organist of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris from 1730 until his death 1755, and of the Royal Chapel from 1738.[2] Calvière was appointed organist of Sainte-Chapelle in succession to Pierre Février, holding this position from 1739 until his death.[3] He was also organist at Sainte-Marguerite. For six months in 1754 he trained Jean-Baptiste Nôtre, who then became organist of the Toul Cathedral for more than half a century.

Calvière was an admirer of François Couperin. His work included motets and pieces for organ. His Te Deum mimicked the sounds of wind and thunder.[4] But apart from a short piece preserved in the library of the Brussels Conservatory, almost nothing has survived. After his death his widow gave his manuscripts to Louis-Claude Daquin for editing and publication. Daquin, his friend, colleague and also rival, neglected to do so. In fairness, Daquin failed to publish many of his own works.

• IMSLP Pièce en trio for organ.

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