Antoine de Lhoyer

Antoine de Lhoyer [L'Hoyer] (6 September 1768 – 15 March 1852) was a French virtuoso classical guitarist and an eminent early romantic composer of mainly chamber music featuring the classical guitar. Lhoyer also had a notable military career; he was an elite member of the Gardes du Corps du Roi, a Knight of the Order of St John and a Knight of the Order of St Louis. His music fell into obscurity even before his impoverished death at the age of 83 in Paris.

Musicological research has revived interest in his music, resulting in some modern recordings and additions to the repertoire for the classical guitar (especially enriching the number and quality of guitar duets).

Biography

Born in the French commune of Clermont-Ferrand, Antoine de Lhoyer was a member of a wealthy bourgeois family. From an early age he was well educated in music, learning to play at first the harpsichord, then the five-string guitar. An early teacher may have been Pierre Jean Porro, Lhoyer left only a few solo works for the guitar. The places of publication of his works correspond to his travels. Opus numbers 1 to 11 have not yet been identified.

List of compositions

Hamburg (Op. 12–18) Grande sonate, Op. 12 Six Romances, Op. 14 Romances, Op. 15, for soprano and guitar Guitar Concerto, Op. 16 (modern edition, Madrid 1964) Trois Sonates (with violin obligato), Op. 17 Ouverture, Op. 18, for violin and guitar

St Petersburg (Op. 19–27) Air Russe varié Six Romances nouvelles, Op. 20 12 Valses, Op. 23 12 Romances nouvelles, Op. 24, for soprano and guitar Six Exercices, Op. 27

Paris (Op. 28–45) Grand Duo Concertant, Op. 28, for violin and guitar Trio, Op. 29, for three guitars Trois Duos concertants dédiés à Madame la Princesse de Croy Solré, Op. 31 (1814) Air varié et dialogué, for guitar quartet (c.1815) 12 Waltzes, Op. 32 for two guitars Fantaisie concertante, Op. 33 Trois Duos concertants, Op. 34 (1819) Six Duos concertants, Op. 35 Six Sérénades faciles, Op. 36 Six Duos nocturnes, Op. 37 Trios, Op. 38 and 39, for violin, viola and guitar The Magic Flute, Op. 40, transcription for violin, viola and guitar Grand Trio, Op. 41, for flute, viola and guitar Trio nº 2 in C, Op. 42, for guitar trio Air varié – Fantaisie – Divertissement suivi d'un air écossais, Op. 43 Duo concertant, Op. 44 Grand duo, Op. 45, for violin and guitar

Without opus numbers Les Soupers de Momus. Recueil de chansons et de poésies fugitives, avec musique et accompagnemens de guitare par MM. F. Carulli et A. Lhoyer. ("The Dinner of Momus", a collection of songs and poems with guitar accompaniment by F. Carulli et A. Lhoyer.) Five works titled Air varié; one in C, published 1828, one set for 4 guitars 6 exercices pour apprendre la guitar à fond Trois chansons russes de l'opera 'La Nymph du Dnépr pour la guitare Variations on 'God save the King' and a Russian air Fantaisie pour guitare seule Divertissement pour la guitare, composé de diverses pièces et suivi de variations sur l'air écossais de la Dame blanche