Jean-Baptiste Loeillet of London

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Jean-Baptiste Loeillet (of London) (November 18, 1680–July 19, 1730) was a flutist, oboist, and harpsichordist who was born in Ghent, Belgium, which was then part of the Spanish Netherlands. He worked in London and died there. Little can be found regarding Loeillet, but according to the New Penguin Dictionary of Music, during the Baroque music era he wrote music for flute, recorder and other instruments and helped to popularise the flute (a new instrument compared to the recorder) in England. He was the elder brother of Jacques Loeillet, another composer of the Late Baroque music era.

In 1705, after his studies in Ghent and Paris, he moved to London and became know as John Loeillet. He was successful as a player and teacher of the harpsichord. He played woodwind in the Queen's Theatre in the Haymarket^[1] and held musical gatherings every week at his home.

His performances were well received in London; and he was responsible for introducing Arcangelo Corelli's Twelve Concerti Grossi to Londoners. Musicologists have argued that his reputation has been eclipsed by the work of his Ghent cousin.

[edit] Differentiation from namesake

A composer cousin of the same name, and different dates of birth and death, was active in Ghent. According to remarks found in Walt Disney’s classic Pinocchio/Songbook and Recorder , he changed his name to John Loeillet to avoid confusion with Jean Baptiste Loeillet (De Ghent), his cousin of the same name, who was already making his mark in France. John Loeillet’s works were published by Walsh in London under this name. In the present, modern era, musicologists have called this Jean-Baptiste Loeillet (of London).