Michel Corrette was born on 10 April 1707 in Rouen, France, as the son of the musician Gaspard Corrette. He probably received his education from his father. In 1726 he applied unsuccessfully for an organist post in Paris and worked as a music teacher. In 1727 he published his first collection of sonatas for various instruments (flute, violin, brass, musette, etc.)
In 1737 he became organist at Sainte-Marie du Temple. His most important teaching work today is considered to be the École d'Orphée for violin from 1738, in which Corrette compares the Italian and French styles and gives important instructions on the playing technique of his time. L'Art de se perfectionner sur le violon from 1782 can be seen as a continuation of the École d'Orphée.
Corrette died on 21 January 1795 in Paris. He is considered an important teacher of French music of the 18th century. Today his Christmas music (Concertos de Noël) is occasionally performed.
His Divertissements pour deux Cors de Chasse were published in 1730 as Opus 7 and were revised and republished by Corrette in 1737. The full title is: Divertissements / pour deux Cors de Chasse / ou Trompettes / Qui conviennent aux Flûtes traversieres, Hautbois, Flûtes abec, Violons et Tambourins.
The pieces were notated in the original transposition in D and again in the transposition in F. The music can also be played without problems on hunting horn in E flat or trumpet.
