Chevalier de Saint-Georges

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Portrait of the Chevalier de Saint-Georges

Joseph Boulogne, the Chevalier de Saint-Georges (sometimes spelled Saint-George) (December 25, 1739 – June 10, 1799) was one of the most important figures in the Paris musical scene in the second half of the 18th century. Known as the "Black Mozart" or the "Voltaire of music" he was one of the earliest musicians of African ancestry in the world of European classical music. His work has fallen into neglect due to the prejudices of history.

1 Life
2 Works
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Life

Joseph Boulogne was a mulatto born in Guadeloupe to an African slave, Nanon, and a white French plantation owner and aristocrat, Guillaume-Pierre Tavernier de Boullogne. He was named after his uncle George de Boullogne Saint-Georges. At the age of 10 he went to France with his family and became one of the top fencers in France, a violin virtuoso and composer. While learning how to play the violin he received private instruction from composers such as Lolli and Gossec. In 1771, he was appointed maestro of the Concert des Amateurs, and later director of the Concert de la Loge Olympique, the biggest orchestra of his time (65-70 musicians). This orchestra commissioned Joseph Haydn to compose six symphonies (the "Paris Symphonies" Nr. 82-87), which Saint-Georges conducted for their world premiere. Later, he was to be appointed the director of the Royal Opera of Louis XVI, but this was prevented by three divas who refused to sing under the direction of a "mulatto".

Saint-Georges was the first Black mason in France. In 1785, he began concentrating on fencing and his military career, fighting against the monarchists in the French Revolution, becoming the first black colonel of the French army. He was later expelled from the army and died in destitution in Paris in 1799.

[edit] Works

Saint-Georges wrote symphonies, roughly 25 concertos for violin and orchestra, string quartets, sonatas, 7 operas, and songs in the style of Mozart, Haydn and the composers of the "Mannheim school".