Joseph Boulogne - The Music of French Refinement
Famed swordsman, virtuoso violinist, brilliant composer and conductor, heroic soldier - today, Joseph Boulogne Chevalier de Saint-Georges would be considered an overachiever.
But even during his time, he was a rarity, an exceptional individual in an era of great upheaval and dramatic change.
Hugely successful at his time, the music of Saint-Georges was nearly forgotten as a casualty of the turbulent times that engulfed France at the end of the XVIII century.
Hugely successful at his time, the music of Saint-Georges was nearly forgotten as a casualty of the turbulent times that engulfed France at the end of the XVIII century.
Only two thirds of his compositions remain, most of them lost forever in the chaos of the French Revolution. However, new generations of musicians have rediscovered and rescued his works, eliciting as much enthusiasm in the public as they did back in his day.
In these days of ample music accessibility, it is hard to imagine how different music as a profession was two centuries ago.
String Quartet in G minor by Saint-Georges
In these days of ample music accessibility, it is hard to imagine how different music as a profession was two centuries ago.
Of course, there were no recordings and no radios. Public concerts in theatres were a rather recent creation, accessible only to the select few who could afford them.
Aside from these sporadic occasions, fine music was only played at court or in the households of the wealthy. Commoners had to content themselves with tavern songs accompanied by fiddle, guitar and drums.
A career in fine music, while reputable, was exceedingly hard.
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A career in fine music, while reputable, was exceedingly hard.
Organised orchestras as we know them today did not exist, and most musicians depended heavily on wealthy sponsors and generous patrons in order to keep playing and composing.
Still, these were fickle customers, and even a job at the Opera was a cutthroat environment where any careless slip could cost your career.
As if all of these weren’t hard enough to discourage anyone, Joseph Boulogne was a mulatto at a time when slavery was still legal and approved of.
As if all of these weren’t hard enough to discourage anyone, Joseph Boulogne was a mulatto at a time when slavery was still legal and approved of.
But his dexterous skill with the violin and singular talent for music, along with his charm and refinement, earned him the respect of his music colleagues and the admiration of the public.
Joseph Boulogne was born in the island of Guadeloupe, in the French Antilles.
Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges by Robineau
Joseph Boulogne was born in the island of Guadeloupe, in the French Antilles.
The illegitimate son of plantation owner George Boulogne and his slave, Nanon, Joseph must have captivated his father from infancy, for he was sent to start his education in Paris at the age of seven.
Two years later, having married Nanon, George returned to France to join his son.
Determined to introduce him into society, at the age of 13 George enrolled him in the Tessier de La Boëssire’s Académie Royale Polytechnique des Armes et de ‘l’Équitation, the most important military academy in France, where nobility trained.
Determined to introduce him into society, at the age of 13 George enrolled him in the Tessier de La Boëssire’s Académie Royale Polytechnique des Armes et de ‘l’Équitation, the most important military academy in France, where nobility trained.
Joseph thrived in the training, becoming an excellent fencer, and by age 15 he was beating the most experienced challengers. His fame grew at such point that he even received challenges from abroad, from those who wanted to test his skills.
In addition to his martial ability, Joseph was also a fine dancer, and very popular among his peers - and also with the ladies that they met at the balls and salons where they were invited. However, his condition of ‘mulatto’ prevented him to marry.
Saint-Georges and La Chevaliere D'On by Robineau
In addition to his martial ability, Joseph was also a fine dancer, and very popular among his peers - and also with the ladies that they met at the balls and salons where they were invited. However, his condition of ‘mulatto’ prevented him to marry.
Upon his graduation from the Academy, at the age of 21, Joseph received the title of Chevalier de Saint-Georges.
However, his true calling was not in the martial arts but in music. As part of his formal education, his father hired the best music teachers in Paris to give him lessons: François Gossec, Antonio Lolli and Jean-Marie Leclaire.
It was Gossec, who first singled out his talent, inviting Joseph to play at the reputed ‘Concert des Amateurs’, of which he was director.
However, his true calling was not in the martial arts but in music. As part of his formal education, his father hired the best music teachers in Paris to give him lessons: François Gossec, Antonio Lolli and Jean-Marie Leclaire.
It was Gossec, who first singled out his talent, inviting Joseph to play at the reputed ‘Concert des Amateurs’, of which he was director.
We can only imagine the astonishment that Saint-Georges caused in the audience, not only for being a mulatto, but also for his superb skill as a violin player - until then, he had only been known as a fine swordsman.
His performance was so successful that by 1771, at the age of 26, Gossec invited him to play as First Violin (the head at the orchestra) at the ‘Concert des Amateurs’, a post where he remained until 1773, when Gossec made him his successor as the director of the group.
By then, Saint-Georges was already composing his first violin sonatas, bringing the best of the French Baroque heritage into the Classical realm.
Symphony Opus 11 N 1 in D major - Allegro (4:06")
His performance was so successful that by 1771, at the age of 26, Gossec invited him to play as First Violin (the head at the orchestra) at the ‘Concert des Amateurs’, a post where he remained until 1773, when Gossec made him his successor as the director of the group.
By then, Saint-Georges was already composing his first violin sonatas, bringing the best of the French Baroque heritage into the Classical realm.
It is said that the Queen, Marie Antoinette, used to drop by to these concerts unannounced, so the orchestra always performed dressed in finery, which only added a touch of visual spectacle to the brilliance of their music.
In 1776, after three years at the helm of the successful Concert des Amateurs, Saint-Georges headed the list of possible directors for the Opera de Paris, the most prestigious musical post in France. It was even rumoured that he was the King’s favourite for the post.
However, a campaign against him led by the Opera’s powerful divas -due to his race- reached scandalous proportions, and Saint-Georges retrieved his candidacy so as not to cause embarrassment to the Queen, who had been entangled in the scheme.
In 1776, after three years at the helm of the successful Concert des Amateurs, Saint-Georges headed the list of possible directors for the Opera de Paris, the most prestigious musical post in France. It was even rumoured that he was the King’s favourite for the post.
However, a campaign against him led by the Opera’s powerful divas -due to his race- reached scandalous proportions, and Saint-Georges retrieved his candidacy so as not to cause embarrassment to the Queen, who had been entangled in the scheme.
It was the most public racial humiliation he ever received.
Joseph continued playing, composing and directing at the Concert des Amateurs and for individual sponsors, but the friendship with the son of an important patron, Phillip D’Orleans, would change his life forever.
A liberal aristocrat, Philip convinced Joseph to joint the budding Reform Movement which, among other things, sought to abolish slavery.
Marie Antoinette at the harpsichord
Joseph continued playing, composing and directing at the Concert des Amateurs and for individual sponsors, but the friendship with the son of an important patron, Phillip D’Orleans, would change his life forever.
A liberal aristocrat, Philip convinced Joseph to joint the budding Reform Movement which, among other things, sought to abolish slavery.
It took much persuasion from Philip, but after a visit to London, where Joseph met the leaders of the British abolitionist movement, he returned to Paris convinced to join the Reformists.
However, the Reforms proposed were rejected by the government with catastrophic consequences, that culminated in the assault of La Bastille and the incarceration of the royal family in 1792.
However, the Reforms proposed were rejected by the government with catastrophic consequences, that culminated in the assault of La Bastille and the incarceration of the royal family in 1792.
France was declared a Republic, but in the upheaval that followed, the country quickly became under the threat of armed invasion from Austria, Italy and Spain.
Saint-Georges’ fame as swordsman was well-remembered, and he was made army Colonel to fight against the invaders of the Republic.
Saint-Georges’ fame as swordsman was well-remembered, and he was made army Colonel to fight against the invaders of the Republic.
He assembled a thousand-men strong battalion of black men and mulattos, - the Saint-Georges’ Legion, the first of its kind -, and fought valiantly against the Austrian army.
Still, his brave efforts brought him little reward. In 1793 the king, Louis XVI, and his family were executed and the Reign of Terror began.
Still, his brave efforts brought him little reward. In 1793 the king, Louis XVI, and his family were executed and the Reign of Terror began.
In spite of their involvement in the Reform Movement, their aristocratic past caught Phillip and Joseph in the chaos that followed, and both were imprisoned. Phillip was executed, and Joseph was released after nearly two years in prison.
By then, nothing of the world he had known remained.
Saint-Georges spent his last years playing with small orchestras in France. He died in 1799, at the age of 54.
Fortunately, most of his music survived. Saint-Georges composed six string quartets, six operas (‘Ernestine’, ‘La Partie de Chasse’, ‘L’Amant Anonyme’, ‘La Fille Garcon’, ‘Aline et Dupre’, ‘Guillaume tout coeur ou les amis de village’), 14 Violin Concertos, 8 Symphonies Concertantes, 2 Symphonies and 12 Sonatas for several instruments.
It’s understandable that some may find in his music reminiscences of Mozart, since both composers were almost contemporary, and adhered strictly to the classical cannons of composition in character and melodic structure.
However, while Mozart is often playful and almost mischievous, Saint-Georges never strays away from pure refinement and is never frivolous, peppering his compositions with adventuresome combinations and challenging techniques.
By then, nothing of the world he had known remained.
Saint-Georges spent his last years playing with small orchestras in France. He died in 1799, at the age of 54.
Fortunately, most of his music survived. Saint-Georges composed six string quartets, six operas (‘Ernestine’, ‘La Partie de Chasse’, ‘L’Amant Anonyme’, ‘La Fille Garcon’, ‘Aline et Dupre’, ‘Guillaume tout coeur ou les amis de village’), 14 Violin Concertos, 8 Symphonies Concertantes, 2 Symphonies and 12 Sonatas for several instruments.
Violin Concerto N 11 in G major - Largo (6:08")
It’s understandable that some may find in his music reminiscences of Mozart, since both composers were almost contemporary, and adhered strictly to the classical cannons of composition in character and melodic structure.
However, while Mozart is often playful and almost mischievous, Saint-Georges never strays away from pure refinement and is never frivolous, peppering his compositions with adventuresome combinations and challenging techniques.
In fact, Mozart himself may have been inspired by Saint-Georges, as at least one of his compositions bear resemblance to that of the French composer.
Although it is true that Saint-Georges’ work did not offer any great musical breakthrough, his technical virtuosity, and his constant pushing of the expressive possibilities of the violin mark him as one of the most brilliant composers of his generation.
Even today, Saint-Georges’ music invite us to listen with our ears well open and our eyes closed, to understand once more why music is the universal language of the heart.
Source: Wikipedia, Thirteen, CD notes.
Symphony N1 in G major - Allegro (5:25")
Although it is true that Saint-Georges’ work did not offer any great musical breakthrough, his technical virtuosity, and his constant pushing of the expressive possibilities of the violin mark him as one of the most brilliant composers of his generation.
Even today, Saint-Georges’ music invite us to listen with our ears well open and our eyes closed, to understand once more why music is the universal language of the heart.
Source: Wikipedia, Thirteen, CD notes.
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