Jean Cappus
Jean Cappus was a French composer. The second name ‘Baptiste’ is attested only on his 1730 book of viol music.
Biography
Youngest son of François Cappus, organist, singer and composer in Dijon, Province of Burgundy, and Anne Hervelin, Jean Cappus married Marie-Michelle Dotée on 17 October 1729. The couple had two sons, Louis and Nicolas.Career
In 1734 Jean Cappus become director of the theatre in Dijon. He was ‘Pensionnaire de la Ville de Dijon’, ‘Maître Ordinaire de la Ville de Dijon’, and musician for Louis Henri, Duke of Bourbon, prince of Condé, governor of Burgundy. He also worked regularly as a composer for the Jesuit College in Dijon for whom he composed music for plays; only the text has survived, not the music. Jean Cappus rented the Hôtel de Barres in Dijon in 1734, which nowadays is the square Carrelet de Loizy. Here he directed many productions up to his death. An account of his conducting was given by Lantin Damerey in 1838 : ‘Rameau played the harpsichord, and Cappus directed theorchestra with such vanity equal to a general of the army at the head of his
troops. His wife took over when it was needed’.
Works
Etrennes de musique contenant une méthode courte et facile pour apprendre cet art en très peu de temps, Paris, Lecler, Boivin, l'auteur, 1730. Premier livre de pièces de viole et la basse continue, Paris, Boivin, Le Clerc, 1730. RISM A/1 C 927. Premier recueil d'airs sérieux et à boire, Paris, Boivin, 1732 Second recueil d'airs sérieux et à boire, Paris, Boivin, 1732 Sémélé, ou La Naissance de Bacchus. Cantate à voix seule avec simphonie, Paris, Boivin, Le Clerc, Cappus, 1732. RISM A/1 C 925 Second livre de pièces de viole, Paris, Boivin, 1733- Air Ah! J'entends que la foudre gronde, "Mercure de France",, s.n., December 1734, vol. II, p. 2906 and following folio. RISM A/I C 926.