Sauzay, Charles Eugene

1809-1901

Distinguished French violinist and composer; born in Paris, and studied privately with Vidal; then entered the Conservatory as a pupil of Baillot, where he won several prizes, among others the second violin prize in 1825 and the first violin prize in 1827 and second prize for fugue. Later he studied with Guerin and Reicha. He was a member of Baillot's quartet, playing second violin and afterward viola. He married Baillot's daughter. Sauzay was violinist to Louis Philippe in 1840 and leader of the second violins to Napoleon III. He was appointed professor of the violin at the Paris Conservatory in 1860. He was shortly afterward made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. He wrote fantasies on Zampa for the violin and piano; etudes for violin; the music for Georges Daudin and Le Sicilien of Moliere, which were written in the style of Lully; a string trio, and a school of accompaniment, published at Paris in 1869. He also wrote a study of the quartets of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, together with a catalog of the same, published in 1861. With Norblin and Franchomme, Boely and Mme. Sauzay, he organized a quartet which gave chamber-music soirees in the Salle Pleyel.