Jacques Cordier

Jacques Cordier (c. 1580 – 1653), known as "Bocan", was a French player of the violin and rebec, dancing master and composer, in the reign of Louis XIII.

He was born in Lorraine about 1580. He was unable to read music, but had great power of execution, and Marin Mersenne mentions his gift of modulating the tones of the violin. He was dancing master to Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles I of England, and came with her to England. The King took great delight in hearing him play the violin. Cordier returned to Paris when the Civil War broke out. His tomb at Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois was restored in 1843.

François de Chancy's Tablature de Mandore (Paris, 1629), contains a graceful branle by Cordier.