Joseph Bologne Chevalier de Saint George - Violin Concertos

Joseph Bologne, more commonly known as Saint-George was born about 1739, in Basse Terre, Guadeloupe. His father was a French Parliamentary councilor. Little is known about Bologne's mother, who came from Africa, and no known records survive as to her early history. His earliest upbringing was in the isles of the Caribbean. While he was young, his family moved to Saint Domingue (now Haiti); it was there that he likely had his first violin lessons, under the direction of his father's plantation manager. When he was 10, the family once again shifted its home, this time to Paris, France.
In Paris, Bologne's life underwent an almost phenomenal change. He not only partook in a wide range of activities -- including riding, dancing, swimming, skating, and fencing -- he became a master swordsman, often being deemed the greatest in Europe during his prime. He also studied arms under the Master of Arms La Boessiére for about six years. Before he turned 20, Bologne took up studies of the violin under Leclair, and composition under Gossec. The years from 1758 to 1768 were filled with learning and mastering both musical creation and performance on his instrument of choice, which he soon mastered as securely as he did fencing. In 1769, Gossec appointed Bologne as first violinist of the Concerts des Amateurs, the young composer's first professional post. But the real glory came later, in 1772, when he made his debut as soloist in performing his own Op. 2 violin concerti. These violin concerti contain virtuosity that was extreme during this time, but the audience was most impressed with the feeling and expression Bologne put into his performances. His musical output during this time included assorted sonatas, string quartets, seven Sinfonie Concertanti, a ballet (L'amant Anonime), and two operas (Ernestine and La fille-garçon). By 1773, Bologne was a well-respected musician, and took over Gossec's post as director of the Concerts des Amateurs. His 1775 appointment as director of the Paris Opéra, unfortunately, was revoked after singers refused to work with him because of his race. However, he was largely responsible for the commissioning of Haydn's famous Paris Symphonies.
When the Revolution broke out in 1789, the now-noble Joseph Bologne Chevalier de Saint-George joined the newly formed Republic and assembled a new military force in northern France. In 1791, he left music completely and became the captain of the National Guard in Lille. However, Saint-George was wrongfully accused of misappropriation of funds intended for the troops, and he was stripped of his command and placed into prison. Upon his release, he left France for Saint Domingue after hearing of the slave rebellion. Joseph Bologne returned to Paris in 1797 to resume his musical career, directing a new musical organization, Le Cercle de l'Harmonie. After two dreary years, Saint-George died a pauper, having given up his wealth and life to the Revolution and not being able to recover.
Joseph Bologne is noted as being able to use one excellent melodic line after another in a single work. His thematic ideas seemed endless and effortless, and sometimes he employs so many fine passages in a row that it almost seems wasteful. Apparently, however, he never had to concern himself with exhausting his wealth of musical creativity. He is remembered mainly for his quartets and violin concerti, but his operas were quite popular. His musical style was naturally suited to operatic and theatrical music, and it is believed that some other operatic works of his have been lost to time.

[@MsHiflying]

This is just so exquisite. How can you say you love music and not be in awe of his talent and the beauty of these arrangements.

[@conforzo]

Mozart is said to have heard one of his violin concertos while in Paris and had been greatly inspired by it.

[@patrickhorne2078]

This is incredible. The very first song is magnificent and beautiful! How is it that none of his music is in movies. There is a symphony center in Indianapolis and I am pretty sure they have never played any of his music! How is that! He is clearly one of the greatest to ever have done it, he deserves more respect, they need to do a Hollywood movie on his life; I would pay a lot of money to see that! If only I was rich, I would pay Hollywood to tell his story LOL :) :) :) :) :) LOL :) :)

[@PeekaPeep]

Classical music station I tune in to daily in my area (KUSC) NEVER plays any of his work and I'm seriously beginning to wonder why that is so. Boulogne's life story alone is so incredible it ought to be presented on the big screen with all the trimmings. Fascinating character in the annals of 18th century world history, not to be so easily forgotten.

[@inquizative44]

KZbin is the greatest most pervasive source of knowledge, awakening the world. I doubt I would have never know anything about this great black musical genius if it wasn't for YT. I guess he was also quite the 'upstart crow.'

[@josephdockemeyer4807]

What is an "upstart crow"?

[@warmswarm]

inquizative44 - I'm 64 and I've never heard the term "upstart crow".

[@winfriedpaarmann3281]

Wieder eine Entdeckung! Brillant in jedem Satz, in jeder Passage. Die Haydn- und Mozartzeit -: eine Zeit voll unbekannter oder zu wenig bekannter Genies. - Wer geigt? Ein herrlich intensiver Geigenton!

[@hans-ruedi1545]

Great Athlet, Offizier and great Composer.

[@canaleteatrale6662]

and great lover, we know from the Queen of French

[@barrydelisle8655]

Such beautiful music

[@jillmac1799]

Absolutely great

[@gozafago]

Wonderful music.

[@mouth-breathinng_normie9387]

thumbs up!

[@barrydelisle8655]

Leopold Mozart also loved this composer much like the son. JC Bach also may have picked up from him. JC has similar music to St Georges

[@antonczerny]

17:20

[@psychocuda]

10:25 could be mistaken for Tchaikovsky, yes, I know he was around well before Tchaikovsky.

[@stanielgrainstuffer1139]

psychocuda I agree, very reminiscent of Eastern European classical music.

[@antonczerny]

20:47

[@mrJohnDesiderio]

This is just plain brilliant ! A genius. Needs to stand along side Haydn and early Beethoven , screw Mozart, he sounds nothing like him!

[@lowtech5380]

I bet Wolfgang copied him and got credit for things he composed.

[@jorlocuba9289]

The violin was invented in Africa up.

[@mysteriesphanto3528]

I laugh when people compare hip hop to classical music hip hop is Radom it’s dumb classical music is intellectual

[@NormanAustin]

All music, like any of the arts is meant for self expression & like poetry, is different things to different people. There is nothing inherently intellectual about any of it, depends on what the listener or observer brings to the table, you see what you know.

[@NormanAustin]

If you know nothing about something, that is what you see when you see or hear when confronted with it.