Sonata for flute and piano Op. 13, No. 4

Michel Corrette (1707–1795) was a prominent figure of the French Enlightenment, serving as a composer, organist, and the most prolific musical pedagogue of 18th-century Paris.
Born in Rouen, Corrette was the son of Gaspard Corrette, a noted organist and composer. Michel’s early education was entirely domestic, receiving rigorous training from his father in organ performance and the "learned" style of composition.
He moved to Paris in the 1720s, where he quickly integrated into the city's competitive musical market. By 1726, he was already established enough to secure a royal privilege to publish his own works.
Corrette held several prestigious positions, most notably as organist to the Grand Prior of France (the Duke of Orléans) and later at the Jesuit College in Paris. Often called the "father of modern methods," he authored nearly 20 tutors (methods) for a wide range of instruments, including the flute (Méthode pour apprendre aisément à jouer de la flûte traversière), violin, cello, and even the hurdy-gurdy.
His works are defined by the Style Galant, characterized by melodic clarity and light textures. He was famous for his "Concerto Comiques," which utilized popular vaudeville tunes and street songs, making high art accessible to the burgeoning middle class.
While some contemporaries criticized his music as "facile," modern scholars recognize him as a vital bridge between the rigid Baroque and the burgeoning Classical era.