Jean-Noël Hamal (23/12/1709 - 26/11/1778), a South Netherlands composer, born in Liège, son of Henri Guillaume (1685-1752), cantor of Liège Cathedral. After studying in Rome, he sang at Liège Cathedral, becoming director of music in 1738. French and Italian features appear in his output, which includes stage works, oratorios, sacred and instrumental pieces; his six overtures (1743) foreshadow the early Classical symphony. His nephew Henri (1744-1820), who also studied in Italy, succeeded him at the cathedral from 1778 until the Revolution; he composed a similar range of works, some of them in collaboration with Jean-Noël.