Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799)
Violin Concertos, Op. 5, Nos. 1 & 2;
Op. 3, No. 1; Op. 8, No. 9
Bernard Thomas Chamber Orchestra
Jean-Jacques Kantorow, Violin
Arion 68093 (1990)
Op. 3, No. 1; Op. 8, No. 9
Bernard Thomas Chamber Orchestra
Jean-Jacques Kantorow, Violin
Arion 68093 (1990)
Charles Pettaway Performs Music by Composers of African Descent
Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges
Sonata No. 1 in C major (8:21)
Adagio in F minor (3:52)
Howard Swanson
Sonata (10:17)
George Walker
Piano Sonata No. 1 (16:13)
Sonata (10:17)
George Walker
Piano Sonata No. 1 (16:13)
John Dangerfield Cooper
Sonata Fantasie in D minor (20:13)
The Unicorn (4:24)
Sonata Fantasie in D minor (20:13)
The Unicorn (4:24)
Joseph de Bologne, Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges
was born on Dec. 25, 1745 on the island of Guadeloupe. Nanon, his
mother, was a slave owned by Joseph's father. At age 8 Joseph was sent
to school in France, arriving in August, 1753. Joseph's parents later
joined him in France. In October, 1756 the 13-year-old entered the
fencing academy of Nicolas Texier de La Böessière. During six years of
rigorous instruction in fencing and academic subjects, Joseph gained a
reputation as one of France's leading fencers.
At
17, biographer Pierre Bardin tells us, he purchased the Office of
Controller Ordinary of Wars, which entitled him to use the title “Le
Chevalier.” Saint-Georges was an exceptional athlete who excelled in
numerous outdoor activities, including riding, skating and swimming. His
musical ability and education allowed him to master the harpsichord and
violin, winning dedications of works from prominent composers,
including Antonio Lolli in 1764 and François-Joseph Gossec in 1766.
Gossec
founded Le Concert des amateurs, a prestigious ensemble of which
Saint-Georges was first a violinist, then a concert master by 1771. Two
years later he had begun composing and was chosen to succeed Gossec as
conductor. From 1773-1775, he produced 8 violin concertos and 2
symphonies concertantes, according to the Works List compiled by Gabriel
Banat. In 1775, only two years after Saint-Georges became Conductor, L'Almanach Musical [The Musical Almanac] wrote that the ensemble was "the best orchestra for symphonies in Paris and perhaps in Europe".
Saint-Georges
was appointed director of the fashionable private theater of the
Marquise de Montesson and was thus able to present a number of works
written by himself and others. He reached his peak as a composer by
1778, helping to pioneer the string quartet and the symphony concertante
in France. Saint-Georges regularly played music with Queen
Marie-Antoniette, a harpsichordist, at Versailles.
The
first orchestra went out of business in 1781 for financial reasons.
Masons quickly organized a replacement, Le Concert de la Loge Olympique.
Saint-Georges was authorized to commission the six Paris Symphonies of
Franz Joseph Haydn. He and the Concert de la Loge Olympique premiered
the symphonies, Nos. 82-87, in a triumphant series of concerts in 1787.
Queen Marie-Antoniette attended. Symphony No. 85 is called The Queen because it was Her Majesty's favorite.
Saint-Georges
joined the National Guard during the French Revolution, but was soon
appointed Colonel of the unit known as the “Saint-Georges Legion.” It
was comprised of 1,000 volunteers of color. He and his troops fought
with honor and distinction, but he was imprisoned on false charges. In
spite of an acquittal, he was never reinstated to the French Army. In
1797 he took on his last musical ensemble, the Circle of Harmony. He
died of an untreated bladder ailment on June 10, 1799. The newspapers of
France paid tribute to him upon his death.
His
music was no longer played often for nearly two centuries after his
death. A major revival has occurred in the CD era, and many of his works
are now available. Recordings prior to the disc of Charles Pettaway include Sandrine Chatron's 2009 CD
of music for harp Le salon de musique de Marie-Antoinette, including the Sonata for harp and flute of Saint-Georges on the Ambroisie label; and the 2009 release of an MP3 audio download at ClassicsOnline.com of Natalie Hinderas Plays Sensuous Piano Music by Berg, Ravel, Ginastera, Rachmaninov, Liszt and Saint-Georges, originally an Orion LP, which includes the Adagio in F Minor
(6:25) of Saint-Georges. Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges has yet to
receive full recognition of his achievements in either mainstream
History or the standard concert repertoire. [Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799) is profiled at AfriClassical.com]
Comment by email:
Comment by email:
Thank you Bill, Happy Birthday for Joseph Bologne [Jean-Claude HALLEY]
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