A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Dauvergne, Antoine
DAUVERGNE, ANTOINE, violin-player and composer, born at Clermont-Ferrand in 1713. He was a pupil of his father, leader of the band at Clermont. In 1739 he went to Paris to complete his studies, and very soon played with success at the Concert spirituel and entered the band of the King and of the Opera. It is however more as a composer of operas than as a violin-player that Dauvergne claims our attention. Up to his time an opéra comique meant merely a vaudeville, a comic play interspersed with couplets. In his first opera, 'Les Troqueurs,' Dauvergne adopted the forms of the Italian intermezzi, retaining however spoken dialogue in place of recitative, and thereby introduced that class of dramatic works, in which French composers have ever since been so eminently successful. Dauvergne wrote 15 operas in all. Fétis also enumerates 15 motets of his composition, trios for two violins and bass (1740), sonatas for the violin, and two sets of symphonies in four parts (1750).
In 1755 Dauvergne bought the appointment of composer to the king and the next presentation as master of the band. From 1751 he conducted the Opera, and from 1762 the Concert spirituel; and finally, with some interruptions, became manager of the Open. He retired at the outbreak of the Revolution, and died at Lyons in 1797.[ P. D. ]