Joseph-Nicolas-Pancrace Royer

Turning to music out of a necessity to make a living, Royer quickly became associated with the French court serving both as a teacher to the royal children and as a member of the king's chamber. During his career he also served as the director of the Concert Spirituel and a composer and leader of the orchestra of the Opera. At the Concert Spirituel, though the popular works were the grand motets of Mondonville, Royer introduced the symphonies of Graun, Rousseau, Stamitz, Jommelli and Hasse. During his time at the Spirituel, Royer had his operas produced elsewhere, including "Almasis," 1748, and "Promethee et Pandore," 1752. The Italian influence is clearly discernible, as he was born and raised in Italy. Punctuated rhythms, secure accompaniment and harmonies, as well as skillful use of modulation, cadential delays and well-wrought melodies characterized his compositions.