Paul Auget

It is, shortly after 1610 and until May 1620 at least, music teacher of Jean-François de Gondi, commendatory abbot of Saint-Aubin d'Angers, dean of the church of Paris and it is when it is a question, in 1615, of organizing the house of Anne of Austria, who married Louis XIII that year, that he took the opportunity to buy a musician's office from his house. This purchase is negotiated through Painquiny, apothecary of Marie de Medici and straw man of Concino Concini, who keeps for himself a whole year of his wages.

In 1619 he had already obtained another office since he was cited as cantor of the king's music chapel during the first semester, under the orders of Nicolas Formed. At that time, it was his protector Jean-François de Gondi who was grand master of the royal chapel, which probably explains that.

It was probably in 1622, on the death of Michel Fabry, that he bought the office of master of music from the Queen Mother Marie de Medici: he is mentioned as holder of this office in two acts of 1624 and 1625.

In 1625, Auget bought from Henry Le Bailly the survival of the office of superintendent of music in the king's chamber, for the January semester (it was Antoine Boësset then his son Jean-Baptiste Boësset who performed it for the January semester). July). Even before the death of Bailly, Auget will try twice to get rid of this office: once towards Léon Boyer, former master of music of the Duchess of Savoy, by contract of theSeptember 2, 1631, the second timeDecember 19next to François Richard. Each time the transfer will be refused by the king and the contract canceled.

On February 25, 1629, he married Marie Le Camus, daughter of the notary Jean Le Camus and widow of Pierre de Cyrano, king's adviser and treasurer of the offerings, alms and devotions of his majesty, cousin of Savinien Cyrano de Bergerac . The inventory of Paul Auget's property is drawn up in anticipation of the wedding

From this marriage were born six children between 1630 and 1642, four of whom died in infancy. His son Nicolas, baptized theJanuary 7, 1633, is godson of Nicolas Formed but did not survive; his son Jean, knight, lord of Boissy and baron of Monthion, will be president of the Finance Office of Paris and will marry Louise-Geneviève Cousinet, from where descent.

Auget was therefore very busy increasing his fortune, which became quite considerable, as revealed by numerous deeds of purchases or constitutions of annuities passed in the study of the notaries Le Semelier (study LIX) or Le Cat (study XVI) until 'at his death, as evidenced also by the tax of 1000 lt for armament and the monthly tax of 100 lt addressed to him inFebruary 1649(Paris is then prey to the troubles of the Fronde). In 1645 he proceeded to the forced sale of the property of the nuns of the Notre-Dame de Saint-Joseph convent, in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, to obtain the reimbursement of their debts.

The last trace of his musical activity is none other than his participation in the ceremonies of the coronation of the young Louis XIV (June 7, 1654) at Reims. It was Jean de Cambefort (who had married his niece Marie Auget in 1651) who in 1656 received the survival of his office as superintendent of music in the king's chamber.

Auget died in Paris on March 22, 1660. In addition to his offices related to music, he was also esquire, and ordinary gentleman of the King's Chamber.

We know from the records of Madeleine Jurgens of numerous acts affecting Paul Auget, which reveal a very active management of his affairs (annuities, purchases, leases, loans, etc.). The deeds indicate that he lived in 1625 rue de la Vieille Monnaie and from 1627 rue des Prouvaires.

The known production of Paul Auget is the opposite of his career: very limited and unambitious. We have only fourteen airs de cour by him, composed at the start of his career, some of which were composed for ballets de cour. These are airs of classical structure: strophic, with simple harmony and reduced tessitura.