Philidor's musical education began while he was a page-boy in the royal chapel at Versailles. At the same time, he became schooled in the art of chess, a pastime which was the source of some of his fame and probably responsible for his not achieving greater status as a composer. Some of his early compositions were performed at Versailles, but until 1745 he mainly supported himself by copying and teaching. In 1745 he embarked on a concert tour of the Netherlands. Tragedy struck leaving him stranded and he was forced to live by playing chess. British officers helped him to London and he proceeded to establish a reputation as the best player in central and northern Europe. Ten years later he returned to Versailles to apply for the position of court composer but his work was rejected as being too Italian. Despite public resistance to Italian style, Philidor went on to establish a successful career as a composer of comic opera, Le sorcier being one of his earlier hits. Caught in London during the outbreak of the war between France and England, Philidor was cut off from his family and died alone in London in 1795. ~ Lynn Vought