A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Mereaux, Jean

by J. A. Fuller-Maitland

MEREAUX, Jean Nicolas le Froid de, born in Paris 1745, was organist of the Church of St. Jacques du Haut Pas. His oratorios 'Samson' and 'Esther' were given at the Concert Spirituel in 1774 and 1775 respectively. These, and an Ode on the birth of the Dauphin, performed at the same concerts in Dec. 1781, are his only works of importance besides his operas, of which the following complete list is given in the supplement to Fétis:—'La Ressource comique,' 1772; 'Le Retour de Tendresse,' 1774; 'Le Duel comique' (partly arranged from Paisiello), 1776; 'Laurette,' 1777; 'Alexandre aux Indes,' 1783; Oedipe et Jocaste, 1791; 'Fabids,' 1793. He died in Paris in 1797. His grandson,

Jean Amédée le Froid de Mereaux, born in Paris 1803, became a remarkable pianist and a most successful teacher. He studied under Reicha from the age of ten, and appeared with great success in Paris and London before 1835, when he settled in Rouen as a teacher, where he died April 25, 1874. Of his original compositions his studies are the most important, but his fame rests chiefly upon his excellent collection published in 1867 under the title of 'Les Clavecinistes de 1637 à 1790.' He was also in great repute as a musical journalist.

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