PHILIDOR, the assumed name of a French family, which has produced many dis tinguished musicians, and one celebrated composer. The real name of the family was DAN1GAN, and the additional appellation Philidor was assumed by Michel Danigan, the hautboist to Louis XIII., on account of •his having equaled a celebrated player on the same instrument, named Filidori. The name was transmitted to his descendants, the most famous of whom was F!ANqorS ANDRE DANIGAN, who was born at Drenx, in the department of lure et Loir, 1726, studied music, and produced a great many comic operas, all long forgotten. It may be noticed that, while residing in Lon don—whither he had fled on the outbreak of the revolution—(1770), he set to music the "Carmen Steculare" of Horace, a work which is considered by many as a masterpiece of musical art. He died in London, 81, 1795. Philidor's modern reputation rests exclusively on his skill in the gainp of chess, the principles of which he has laid down with exceeding clearness. It was in gm-eat measure his passion for this game which
prompted him to visit Germany and Holland, where, at that time, the most distinguished players were to be found, in order to measure his strength with theirs. He was one of the founders of the London chess club. Here it was that in 1777 he published his Analyse de Jett des &bees (Analysis of the Game of Chess). One principle, then unique, seems to lie at the root of all Philidor's games—i.e., to maintain and support carefully the pieces in the center of the board—and rather than deviate from this principle, he rejects the opportunity of making an effective and advantageous move. He practiced with success the playing of games blindfold; but iu this particular he has been far sur passed in recent times by Harrwitz, and more recently by Morphy.