Jean Danican Philidor

Who is Jean Danican Philidor?

Jean Danican Philidor was a court musician at Versailles during the reign of Louis XIII, and a member of the prestigious Philidor family. The name Philidor was conferred upon Jean's elder brother, Michel Danican, by Louis XIII, when his oboe playing reminded the monarch of the Italian virtuoso oboe player, Filidori of Siena; however, Michel never formally adopted the surname. Jean is the first individual to be found documented as "Danican dit Filidor", and evidence implies that he assumed the name at the time of his brother's death, in 1659.