General Biography on Muffat

Georg Muffat (1653-1704) was born in Megève, France, of Scottish descent. He was fortunate enough to study in Paris with Jean-Baptiste Lully, the prominent court composer of Louis XIV. Subsequent posts as church organist were balanced with a separate interest in law, which he studied in Ingolstadt and Vienna. Despite these ambitions and experiences, a stable post eluded him. Instead Muffat continued to travel: Prague in 1677, then Salzburg and Italy. In Italy he studied with Bernardo Pasquini and met Arcangelo Corelli, whose dazzling chamber works made a deep impression.