This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1904 edition. Excerpt: ...famous violinist; born, Bordeaux, 1774; died there, 1830. He was a pupil of Viotti at Paris, 1788-90, and when only sixteen years old, became leader of the second violins in the orchestra of the Theatre Feydeau. In 1794 he began to make concert tours, played in Holland, Germany, and England, with great success, and returning to Paris, was appointed professor of the violin at the Conservatoire. In 1800 he was made solo-violinist to Napoleon Bonaparte, and in 1803 received a similar appointment at the court of Russia. He was then at his best as a violinist, but over-exertion in Russia weakened his ability, and when he returned to Paris in 1808, he could not arouse enthusiasm as formerly. He made concert tours in Germany, but his playing was a disappointment to the public, and, having married at Berlin in 1814, he retired to Bordeaux. He made a final attempt to play in public in Paris several years later, but the result was a failure, which so disheartened him that it affected his health, and probably hastened his end. No. 252, Frame 19. CATEL, CHARLES S1MON, born, l'Aigle, Orne, 1773; died, Paris, 1839. He was a pupil of Sacchini, Gobert, and Gossec, at the Ecole royale de chant in Paris, and in 1787 was made accompanist and assistant professor at that school. ' In 1790 he became accompanist at the Opera, and assistant conductor at the band of the Garde Nationale, and in 1795, when the Conservatoire was formed, was appointed Professor of Harmony. From 1810-14 he was one of the inspectors of the Conservatoire, in 1817 was elected a Member of the Institut, and in 1824, Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. He wrote eleven operas which have the merits ofelegance and refinement, but were not successful. He also composed choral...