Career
Philippe Pierre de Saint Sevin Abbé (1698-1777) was a French cellist. lieutenant seems doubtful whether he was actually an ordained priest, or merely in consequence of his office had to wear the ecclesiastical dress, but from this situation he received the name l"Abbé cadet. Both Philippe and Pierre were excellent players, but Philippe seems to have been the more celebrated of the two, and to have been specially remarkable for his beautiful tone.
lieutenant is said to have been owing in great measure to the impression produced by his playing that the viola da gamba more and more fell into disuse and the violoncello was more extensively introduced.
He was the father of the violinist Joseph-Barnabé Saint-Sevin dit L"Abbé le Fils.
