Michèl Yost

Full biography Michèl Yost

Michèl Yost was a famous French clarinetist and composer who lived during the early classical period. He was born in Paris in 1754 and died there on July 5, 1786. Yost was known for his virtuosity on the clarinet, which was a relatively new instrument at the time.

Yost wrote several concertos and chamber music pieces for the clarinet, which were well-received by audiences during his time and continue to be studied and performed by clarinetists today. He was also a sought-after teacher, and his students included famous clarinetists such as Jean Xavier Lefevre.

Although Yost's compositions were highly regarded during his lifetime, today he is perhaps better known for his role in the development of clarinet technique. He was one of the earliest performers to use the Boehm system of clarinet fingering, which allowed for greater technical facility and expressiveness on the instrument.

Yost's legacy as a composer and performer continues to be celebrated by musicians and music enthusiasts, and his contributions to the clarinet repertoire and technique are still studied and admired today.