A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Cornette, Victor

by Mary Catherine Hamilton

CORNETTE, Victor, son of an organist, born at Amiens 1795, a musician of indefatigable activity. He entered the Paris Conservatoire in 1811, and studied composition under Lesueur. He served in the band of the 'Grenadiers tirailleurs de la Garde Impériale' in 1813 and 1814, and was at Waterloo; was professor at the College of St. Acheul from 1817 to 1825; member of the orchestra at the Odéon (1825), Opéra Comique (1827); chorus master at the Opéra Comique (1831–1837); director of singing at the Gymnase de musique militaire (1839): conductor of the Strasburg theatre (1842); chorus master to the Opéra national (1847); and again chorus master at the Opéra Comique (1848); also trombonist in the band of the Garde Nationale, and deputy organist at St. Sulpice and the Invalides. Cornette composed an enormous mass of music for every variety of instrument, and published methodes for trombone, ophicleide, cornet à pistons, bugle, saxhorn, saxophone, bassoon, oboe, horn, trumpet, harp, cello, viola, organ, and harmonium.

[ M. C. C. ]