Servais, Joseph

1850-1885

Celebrated violoncellist; the son of Adrien François Servais. He became almost as famous and renewed the triumphs of his father by his fine performances. His father bequeathed to him his fine Stradivarius cello, and it was while performing on it that he died. Joseph Servais was from 1869 to 1870 a member of the Weimar Orchestra and later a professor of the Brussels Conservatory, succeeding his father. Like his father he taught many pupils who afterwards became noted musicians. The journals of Europe all praised him extravagantly. His brother, Frangois Matthieu, was educated at the Brussels Conservatory and became a talented composer.