Marais, Marin (1656–1728)

French bass viol player, known as a virtuoso player, and composer. He was a pupil of Sainte-Colombe (died c. 1691–1701) at the Sainte-Chapelle, and later became a member of the royal band and the orchestra at the Paris Opéra, where he studied composition under Lully and cooperated with him in the performance of operas. In 1725 he retired to devote himself to gardening, but continued to teach. He added a seventh string to the bass viol, and wrote five collections of bass viol pieces (1686–1725).

Works Opera Idylle dramatique, Alcide (1693), and Pantomime des pages (both with Lully's son Louis), Ariane et Bacchus (1696), Alcyone (1706), Séméle (1709).

Other Te Deum; concertos for violin and bass; trios for flute, violin, and bass; pieces for one and two viols; La Gamme pieces for violin, viol, and harpsichord.