 franÃ§ois-andrÃ© danican philidor (september 7, 1726 â august 31, 1795), often referred to as andrÃ© danican philidor during his lifetime, was a french composer and chess player. he contributed to the early development of the opÃ©ra comique. he was also regarded as the best chess player of his age; his book analyse du jeu des Ãchecs was considered a standard chess manual for at least a century, and a well-known chess opening and a checkmate method are both named after him. ==musical family== franÃ§ois-andrÃ© danican philidor came from a well-known musical family, which included: * jean danican philidor (c. 1620â79), andrÃ© danican philidor's grandfather, was a musician at the grande Ãcurie (literally, the great stable; figuratively, the military band) in paris. the original name of his family was danican (d'anican) and was of scottish origin (duncan). philidor was a later addition to the family name. jean danican philidor was given the nickname of philidor by louis xiii because his oboe playing reminded the king of an italian virtuoso oboist coming from siena named filidori. * michel danican (died c. 1659), andrÃ© danican philidor's great-uncle, was a renowned oboist and, together with jean hotteterre, coinvented the oboe by modifying the shawm so that the bore was narrower and the reed near could be held near the end by the player's lips. * andrÃ© danican philidor (c. 1647â1730), franÃ§ois-andrÃ© danican philidor's father, was also known as philidor l'ainÃ© (philidor the elder). he was an oboist and crumhorn player. he was a member of the grande Ãcurie military band and later performed at the court, at the royal chapel, in the employ of louis xiv. * jacques danican philidor (1657â1708) was the younger brother of andrÃ© danican philidor (philidor the elder) and, being a musician, too, was logically known as philidor le cadet (philidor the younger). * pierre danican philidor (1681â1731), also a musician, was the son of jacques danican philidor. * anne danican philidor (1681â1728) was franÃ§ois-andrÃ© danican philidor's oldest brother. anne danican philidor is best remembered today for having founded the concert spirituel, an important series of public concerts held in the palace of the tuileries from 1725 to 1791. franÃ§ois-andrÃ© danican philidor was born to his fatherâs second wife, elizabeth le roy, whom he wed in 1719 when she was 19 years old and he 72. when franÃ§ois-andrÃ© was born, his father 
1726_births 1795_deaths 18th-century_French_writers 18th-century_classical_composers 18th_century_in_chess Chess_composers Chess_theoreticians Classical-period_composers French_chess_players French_chess_writers French_classical_composers French_people_of_Scottish_descent Opera_composers