The Resume

(September 23, 1683-September 12, 1764)
Born in Dijon, Burgundy, France
Cathedral organist, harpsichord teacher, music theorist and composer of the Baroque era
Composed 'Hippolyte and Aricie (1733),' 'Les Indes Galants (1735),' 'Castor and Pollux (1737),' 'Dardanus (1739),' 'The Princess of Navarre (1745),' 'The Temple of Glory (1745)' and 'Zoroastre (1749)'
Wrote the books 'Treatise of Harmony (1722),' 'A New System of Music Theory (1726),' 'Demonstrations of the Principals of Harmony (1750)' and 'Elements of Music Theory and Practice (1752)'
Died of high fever in Paris at age 80

Why he might be annoying:

His mother and father had 11 children (he was #7).
His wife was 26 years younger than him.
He was smug and argumentative about his music theorist books.
He didn't begin to compose operas until age 50.
He battled with his librettists (people he hired to put words to his music) and his bad temper resulted in him rarely working with the same librettist more than once or twice.
Between 1752 and 1754, he was embroiled in the Querelle des Bouffons (War of the Comic Actors) - a war of words concerning the merits of French operas vs Italian operas.
After he died, it was discovered he hoarded gold, yet had but one run down harpsichord, kept his worn-out clothes and owned just one pair of shoes.
After the French Revolution and through the 19th century, his music was all but forgotten.

Why he might not be annoying:

He was an admirer of the works of Jean-Baptiste Lully and his early compostions reflected a similar style.
Believing music is based on harmony, his use of dominant and sub dominant chords to achieve tonality was considered revolutionary.
On a few of his pieces, he collaborated with Voltaire.
He helped establish the career of composer Claude Balbastre.
A stickler for details and perfection, at times he would revise his own operatic compositions.
His stage works and a grant of a royal pension late in his life had brought him the financial security he was desperate to provide his family.
Shortly before he died, he was made a knight of the Ordre de Saint-Michel.
Admirers of his opera 'Castor and Pollux' were composers Hector Berlioz and Claude Debussy.
His music enjoyed a resurgence in the latter half of the 20th century.
His talent was multi-dimensional as he composed operas, ballets, songs, instrumentals, motets, canons and cantatas.

Credit: Scar Tactics

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• An Asteroid was Named in My Honor (Ranked: 4734)
• Ant Eaters/Pinocchios [Big Noses]
• Fiddlers
• Hyphenated Names
• I am a Citizen of France
• Look at Me, I'm Relaxing
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• My Spouse is at Least Ten Years Younger than Me
• Opera Singers and Composers
• Powdered Wig Wearers
• Profiles 27251-27500 (Ranked: 27309)
• Scar Tactics' Profiles [Series 08]
• Scarecrows [Tall Thin People]
• Sheep Names
• Short Fuses
• Supersized Egos
• Teachers

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 70.0% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 10 Votes: 90.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 103 Votes: 62.14% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 109 Votes: 52.29% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 21 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 25 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 11 Votes: 72.73% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 58 Votes: 53.45% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 429 Votes: 72.96% Annoying