Charles Racquet
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Charles Racquet (1598 – 1664) was a French organist who was born and died in Paris.
His family was one of organists; he was titular organist at the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris from 1618 until 1659 and his successor in this function had the same name (Racquet). He was also musician to Anne d'Autriche, the Queen Mother (mother of Louis XIV of France). He embodies the polyphonic tradition at the beginning of baroque organ. His reputation was great as a music teacher and the famous lutenist Denis Gaultier, who probably had learned with him, composed a tombeau (a funeral piece) after his death.
He exchanged letters with the reputed musicologist and Jesuit scholar Marin Mersenne; this last one wrote an important treatise about all musical questions of his time (Traité de l'harmonie universelle), and inserted in his book the monumental fantaisie by Racquet which is one of the very few works that was preserved from his, put aside twelve duos upon psalm verses.
