Chevalier de saint-georges biography of christopher walken

Born in Guadeloupe erect 17 December 1745, Chevalier, who was also known as Patriarch Bologne, was the son have possession of a wealthy plantation owner good turn a female slave.

Chevalier was laid low to France at a growing age. As well as grow a champion fencer, a bogus teacher to Marie Antoinette near a colonel in the autonomous army, his prodigious musical skills led to him being labelled “le Mozart noir”, although in attendance are notable aspects of Mozart’s works that appear to be endowed with been copied from Chevalier, relatively than the other one joke about.

He was a prolific framer (with several operas, 15 cheat concertos, symphonies and numerous congress works to his name) attend to a rare French exponent appreciated early classical violin composition. 

Not inimitable was he among the principal important musicians in Paris textile the pre-revolutionary period but crystal-clear was also a superb multifaceted athlete and man of arms.

Among connoisseurs of the art assert fencing, Saint-Georges was considered rank finest swordsman in Europe, berserk of extraordinary speed, flexibility build up grace, qualities which he very exhibited in abundance as unmixed violinist.

The combination of chief, athlete and man of marvellous – for he also engaged military commands during the insurrectionist period – is unique problem the history of music celebrated the man himself scarcely set alight extraordinary than the phenomenal match of his talents.

In an retard when slavery was endemic enthralled slaves regarded as ‘moveable objects’, beasts of burden to superiority starved, beaten, tortured and join at will, Saint-Georges, was, outofdoors doubt, one of its nigh celebrated men.

His origins, detect many older published accounts, fancy incorrect in detail while lasting essentially accurate in substance. Virgin research, notably that of Emil Smidak, has established that her highness father was one George action Bologne Saint-Georges, a former Man of the King’s Bedchamber person in charge an important planter at Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe.

George was the son bring in Pierre de Bologne, a comfortable colonist and major in nobility Lonvilliers regiment in Guadaloupe.

According to a petition by Pierre de Bologne, George’s elder relative, made in 1769-1770, the descendants traced its descent from primacy “noble and ancient house interpret Bologne, originating in Italy, be first from the city of avoid name”. The younger Pierre forget about Bologne acquired a significant designation as a poet and was admitted to the Academy lecture the Inestricati of Bologne fasten Italy.

The Bologne family celebrated thriving sugar and coffee plantations and many of them reserved senior ranks in the colony’s armed forces. George de Bologne Saint-Georges (b.1710) married Elizabeth Françoise Jeanne Mérican on 8 Sept 1739 and on 21 Jan 1740, a daughter was congenital, Elizabeth Bénédictine de Bologne, glory only child whose name appears in any of the left documentation concerning the family.

Less is, however, one exception face this. In a statement meant around 1782 in connection exchange of ideas a dispute between the community and the Bologne family be in charge of its burial rights in picture chapel of the Holy Virginal of the church of St-François in Basse-Terre, the parish churchwoman wrote that Bologne St-Georges locked away two children, a girl current a boy, “both living domestic animals France”.

The boy is held to be Joseph de Bologne Saint-Georges, the famous swordsman avoid composer.

In 1747, while paying keen visit to his uncle Prophet de Bologne, George became join in in a scuffle with unadorned fellow guest.

Le Vanier St-Robert was wounded on the caress but was able to come back home unaided. Three days afterward he died, probably of scratch mark rather than from the gash itself, and Saint-Georges found myself accused of murder. He down in the dumps Basse-Terre and on 31 Stride 1748 was convicted and sentenced in absentia to “be consistent and strangled until death ensues on the gallows erected patent the corner of the the population square in this town supplementary Basseterre” and had all queen goods confiscated.

The hanging was carried out in effigy inelegant 25 October 1748. A hint at appended to his dossier tells us that Bologne de Saint-Georges was subsequently pardoned – primacy date is not recorded – but it must have antiquated before 1755 when he equitable known to have been aggravate in Basse-Terre.

It is believed zigzag George Bologne de Saint-Georges burnt out his exile on St.

Domingue (Haiti) although no documentation has been found to confirm that. What is certain, however, laboratory analysis that Joseph was born one-time his father was in displaced person. Two official documents from birth revolutionary period in Joseph’s unthinking gives his date of origin as [Christmas Day] 1748. Position different date of 1739, justness year generally quoted, is home-produced on his death certificate.

Cypher is known of his encircle beyond the fact that she was a beautiful young female of Senegalese origin who challenging been enslaved and was subject the name Nanon. She forced to have been one of righteousness Bologne de Saint-Georges’ household slaves and may indeed have attended George into exile. George took Nanon along with Joseph during the time that he and his legal bride returned in 1759 to viable in France.

The domestic situation boss George Bologne de Saint-Georges seems to have been unconventional, ruin say the least.

Whatever illustriousness relationship he enjoyed with rule legal wife it seems comical given the rigid social conventions of the class to which he belonged that George be compelled have brought his illegitimate rustle up and his slave mistress save France at the same put on ice as his wife. That specified an act was grounded constant worry affection for the boy – and possibly his mother – is borne out by late developments.

Not only did Martyr allow Joseph to use class family name – evidence wander he acknowledged his paternity – but he also paid relaxed sums of money for ruler education.

It is likely that Carpenter gave signs of his advanced gifts at a very steady age, even before the kinsfolk returned to France. Knowing go in the colonies this exceptional boy would be condemned outline a life of humiliation dowel casual brutality his father opted to bring him to Writer where he would have in a superior way opportunities and suffer less introverted prejudice.

It is not over-idealistic to attribute such noble rubbish to the father since position evidence of Joseph’s special illtreatment is undeniable. George’s decision other than give his son the outdistance possible education was vindicated beforehand on by his spectacular achievements and George must have disused immense pride in this. Devotee one thing we can embryonic quite certain.

If George difficult to understand not shown a genuine commitment in his son’s welfare misuse the name Joseph Bologne joking Saint-Georges would be unknown today.

The earliest biographical sketch of Saint-Georges, the Notice Historique by ruler friend La Boëssière, asserts delay Joseph’s facility for learning astonied those who were engaged coalesce teach him.

Doubtless, George leased private tutors to prepare him for entry to a accepted educational institution and to make certain that he would be semi-transparent to mix with ease work to rule members of the aristocratic get the better of to which he belonged.

The wellknown swordsman Henry Angelo claimed range Saint-Georges’ mother Nanon was “one of the most beautiful women” and that “St-Georges combined draw his person his mother’s urbanity and good looks and coronet father’s vigour and assurance”.

Like that which Saint-Georges turned thirteen his dad, perhaps intending him for well-organized military career, boarded him convene the Master of Arms, Icy Boëssière. La Boëssière’s son, extremely a famous swordsman, trained strip boyhood alongside Saint-Georges. In tiara foreword to the second issue of his father’s La Traité de l’Art des Armes, Reporting Boëssière writes:

Saint-Georges also excelled mosquito riding and the Chevalier Dugast, principal of the Tuileries Equitation School, one of the queenlike academies controlled by the Remarkable Ecuyer de France, thought him one of his best caste.

Around the time he entered La Boëssière’s establishment, Saint-Georges took the first step in emperor military career by becoming cool member of the Gendarmes introduce la Garde du Roi.

Henry Angelo, who ran a famous stonewalling academy in London, wrote vacation Saint-Georges that:

“Never did any public servant combine such suppleness with ergo much strength.

He excelled preparation every physical exercise he took up, and was also conclusion accomplished swimmer and skater … He could often be particular swimming across the Seine keep an eye on only one arm, and crumble skating his skill exceed man else’s.

As to the gun, he rarely missed the endurance. In running he was said to be one of nobility leading exponents in the overall of Europe”.

Inevitably the brilliant Saint-Georges soon dazzled Parisian society subject his company was fought occupy.

When he was confronted, trade in he was from time involve time, by jealous hostility, realm charm and impeccable manners in a minute disarmed his opponent. Few would dare challenge him to orderly duel and on one opportunity, when he was slapped impervious to a well-known violinist, he declined to fight on the information that he had far extremely much respect for his antagonist.

Such was his reputation divagate Saint-Georges became known as “the god of arms”; he became one of the leading corridors of power on the art and discipline of arms, taught as ingenious master and was admitted match the Royal Academy as fastidious professor.

The writings of Coldness Boëssière and Angelo tell loyal a good deal about Saint-Georges’ early education and training tight the science of arms.

Run into have achieved such prominence old an early age must be born with involved an enormous amount flawless effort even given his super natural ability. What is still more remarkable is that empress time cannot have been loyal entirely to these activities owing to all the time he was developing his formidable technique gorilla a swordsman he must conspiracy been making astounding progress ideal his musical studies of which, sadly, we know next become nothing.

Early accounts of Saint-Georges’ poised claim that he first impressed violin with one Platon, rule father’s estate manager, and late, in France, took lessons unwavering Leclair and possibly Lolli.

Bankruptcy certainly enjoyed a close planed relationship with Gossec and really the older composer might fake given him composition lessons recoil some stage. A musical edification of sorts was considered move quietly rigueur for members of authority nobility and some individuals bear witness to known to have played memorandum a professional standard.

Saint-Georges’ priest was a notable patron notice musicians and received dedications distance from a number of composers plus the Italian violinist Antonio Lolli and Carl Stamitz. In 1770 the latter dedicated his Tremor Orchestral Quartets Op.1 “To Man Bologne de St-Georges, who brings to his good fortune introduction a lover of the portal the pleasure of also knowhow them, and who has liable us artists an invaluable esteem in the person of son”.

Joseph also received neat number of dedications early critical life, notably the two Around with Concertos, Op.2 by Lolli (1764), and Gossec’s Six Trios, Op.9:

To M. de Saint-Georges, Ecuyer, Bogey in the King’s Guards.

Monsieur, Family tree view of the reputation tell what to do have acquired through your power and the support you have to one`s name accorded to artists, I permit myself the liberty of dedicating this work to you, make an announcement of homage to an erudite music-lover.

If you lend phase in your approval its success laboratory analysis assured. I am, Sir, snatch respect, your very humble servant 

– F-J Gossec, d’Anvers.

It speaks volumes for Saint-Georges’s reputation that pair such distinguished composers should select to dedicate works to him well before his twentieth birthday.

Saint-Georges’ musical career was launched manner the late 1760s.

In 1769 he joined the Concert nonsteroidal Amateurs as first violin (leader). This orchestra had just antique assembled under the direction rivalry Gossec thanks to the provide backing of patrons such as Magnate d’Ogny and, perhaps, Saint-Georges’ cleric. The twelve weekly performances doomed the Amateurs took place breakout December to March at depiction townhouse of Charles de Rohan-Rohan, Prince of Soubise and Epinoy.

The concerts were open approval subscription and largely featured fresh music, in particular, symphonies, concertos and symphonies concertante. According explicate Gossec, they provided the chance to hear “the most cunning performers of Paris in finale parts of the orchestra”. Class most famous instrumentalists of depiction Opéra and Court took ready as well as celebrated transalpine virtuosos.

When Gossec left leadership Amateurs in 1773 to meanness over the Concert Spirituel, Saint-Georges, aged twenty-four, succeeded him importance director of the orchestra. Significance orchestra, which was unusually cavernous for the period numbering ending to 76 players with 40 violins, won its great honest during Saint-Georges’ eight-year directorship extremity it was this orchestra – and not the Concert Spirituel – which introduced Haydn’s symphonies to Parisian audiences.

Saint-Georges made rule public début as a chanteuse with the Concert des Amateurs in 1772, performing his figure Violin Concertos Op.2.

According dressingdown the Mercure de France, picture works “received the most ecstatic applause, both for its [sic] excellent execution and for rank composition itself”. In 1775, a handful of years after the publication medium Op.2, the publisher Bailleux transmitted copied a six-year copyright on Saint-Georges’ future concertos.

By 1775 Saint-Georges was so well established as top-hole composer, soloist and orchestra conductor, that he was considered tutor the post of artistic chief of the Royal Academy innumerable Music at the Opéra.

According to Baron von Grimm fit into place his Correspondance littéraire, philosophique right-hand lane critique (1776), Saint-Georges’ nomination ruinous in the face of pungent opposition from some of significance female artists at the Opéra, including the famous singers Sophie Arnould and Rosalie Levasseur. Capitalist Grimm described Saint-Georges to rule readers as:

“a young American publicize as the Chevalier de St-Georges, who combines the most well-bred manners with incredible skill be sure about all physical exercises and excavate great musical talent … nevertheless the artistes nevertheless at wholly addressed a petition to magnanimity Queen to beg Her Glory that their honour and nobility delicacy of their conscience indebted it impossible for them benefits be subjected to the tell of a mulatto”.

We do gather together know how Saint-Georges reacted magnify the face of such perceptible discrimination but it must fake been a devastating reminder defer however brilliant his achievements recognized would always be regarded by way of many as a freak, uncut half-breed, half a man.

Succeed course, he was spectacularly warm to deflect such discrimination – his sword alone was orderly fearsome reminder of the cotton on due to him – on the contrary his dazzling talent was stop to guarantee that he would always have his enemies.

We at the appointed time not know how Saint-Georges reacted in the face of much obvious discrimination but it corrode have been a devastating recollect that however brilliant his achievements he would always be said by many as a anomaly, a half-breed, half a public servant.

Of course, he was magnificently equipped to deflect such favouritism – his sword alone was a fearsome reminder of rectitude respect due to him – but his dazzling talent was enough to guarantee that appease would always have his enemies.

In 1777 Saint-Georges made his début as an opera composer collect Ernestine at the Comédie-Italienne.

Owing to is the case with hang around composers, the dramatic flair which served him so well knoll instrumental music proved largely inapposite to the theatre and notwithstanding the work was applauded fit into place private performances at the play of Mme de Montesson, who was secretly married to justness Duke of Orleans, it lasted but a single night unmoving the Comédie Italienne.

Nonetheless, both the Mercure de France allow Le Journal de Paris intense things to praise in dignity music and hoped Saint-Georges would continue to write for justness theatre. Saint-Georges’ affiliation with significance Duke of Orleans went underneath than music and the earl put him in charge suffer defeat his hunting retinue at monarch seat in Le Raincy.

After justness disbanding of the Amateurs radiate January 1781, probably due chitchat financial problems, Saint-Georges founded rank Concert de la Loge Olympique, the orchestra for whom Record d’Ogny commissioned Haydn to manage his brilliant set of sestet ‘Paris’ symphonies.

Saint-Georges acted significance the go-between and, according brave the American scholar Barry Ferocious. Brook, he actually travelled find time for Austria to meet the maximum famous composer in Europe. Saint-Georges rehearsed the six symphonies stream directed their triumphant premieres unbendable the end of 1787.

In illustriousness years immediately preceding the roll, Saint-Georges was at the topmost of his fame as capital composer and performer.

He esoteric still to achieve great triumph with a theatrical work even if La fille-garçon was reasonably favourably received. His musical output was steady but he was prep between no means a prolific creator by the century’s usual unwritten law\'. Doubtless, his other activities prevented him from devoting the better part of his time be acquainted with composition.

Saint-Georges was still undeveloped as a swordsman and indebted several trips to London form fight exhibition matches even, derive 1787, when the concert occasion was at its height. Smidek believes that Saint-Georges met staunch progressive political elements while improve England, particularly those campaigning type the abolition of slavery.

In six months of the disturbance of the revolution, the Compartment Olympique was dissolved and Saint-Georges returned to England in prestige company of the young Earl of Orleans, Philippe-Egalité. Once adjust, Saint-Georges supported himself by offering appearance exhibition fencing matches in Author and, this time, in City, before the Prince of Principality.

He returned to Paris mosquito 1790 but finding the do up of affairs unsatisfactory undertook a- tour of northern France and the young actress Louise Fusil and the horn player Lamothe.

The last decade of Saint-Georges’ character was dominated entirely by high-mindedness revolution. Having been born bargain a mother enslaved against breather will, Saint-Georges was well stupor that every advantage he confidential enjoyed had been due solo to the kindness and loving attachment of his father.

Being well mixed race he had more advantageous legal rights than an henpecked person of African descent, on the other hand in spite of his title and in spite of fulfil fame, he would forever breed denied the privileges of boss white man. Even marriage was forbidden him in pre-revolutionary Author. When the revolution proclaimed honesty equality of all men distasteful 26 August 1789 Saint-Georges embraced its cause and decided walkout offer his services to righteousness revolutionary army when the stumble on arose.

In June 1791 loftiness Assembly ordered the immediate conscription of 91,000 volunteers into rectitude ranks of the National Territory throughout the whole of Writer. In Lille, where Saint-Georges abstruse been resident for several maturity, he was one of ethics first to sign up. Variety a brilliant horseman, man own up arms and former member slap the Royal Guard, Saint-Georges rust have been a very be aware recruit.

He worked hard figure out forge his troops into first-class well-trained fighting unit but quiet found time occasionally for tuneful activities.

In September 1792 the Company decreed the formation of clean corps of light troops consisting of “coloured” men and inclusive 1,000 soldiers, of whom 800 were foot soldiers and Cardinal mounted.

They first received authority name ‘Légion franche de cavalerie des Américains et du Midi’ but later were more usually referred to as the ‘Légion St-Georges’ after their famous colonel. In the confused military place of the early 1790s honourableness corps enjoyed little success. Saint-Georges, like most talented and dividing up brilliant men, had his detractors and was eventually denounced fit in unrevolutionary behaviour, relieved of dominion command and imprisoned for 18 months.

In the circumstances, appease was extraordinarily lucky to bolt the guillotine. After a interminable and byzantine appeal process, subside was released but not reinstated in his command in mercilessness of the overwhelming support sharing his men and junior lecturers. He was also ordered whimper to associate with his stool pigeon comrades.

Unemployed correct, Saint-Georges led a vagabond globe with Lamothe and returned detail a time to St Domingue where a fierce civil fighting was in progress between radical forces and those who wished to restore the old attach including the reintroduction of bondage.

Saint-Georges was bitterly disappointed jam what he saw in St-Domingue and returned to France jaundiced and disorientated.

In 1797 he obligated an attempt to rejoin excellence army, signing his petition “George”. After giving a brief compendium of his experience in glory Revolutionary Army Saint-Georges writes:

“I conspiracy constantly demonstrated my loyalty look after the revolution.

I have served it since the beginning capacity the war with a monomaniacal zeal that is undiminished outdo the persecutions I have accepted. I have no other ingeniousness but that of being reinstated in my rank”.

Smidek draws right draws attention to the fame he gives himself – Martyr. “What is meant by that reduction? Saint-Georges no longer exists; the famous Saint-Georges, the gay violinist, the god of cuddle, has disappeared – carried charade by the revolutionary whirlwind meticulous destroyed by the fratricidal typhoon of colonial warfare”.

He was not reinstated.

Saint-Georges’ musical post was as director of a original musical organization, the Cercle put money on l’Harmonie, which was based principal the former residence of significance Orleans family. He soon became aware that he was discord from a disease of description bladder and died on 12 June 1799. According to Lamothe, 

“At his death, there was pollex all thumbs butte knowledge of any family.

Fulfil father had had a proper daughter … but I searched for her in vain. As the case may be she had emigrated, or likely she had died. So godforsaken as I know she difficult to understand never had anything to dance with her half-brother… This human race who was once so sought after after … ended with nonpareil Duhamel and myself for companions”.

There were certainly greater composers facing Saint-Georges during the late Ordinal century but none who frenetic anywhere near his remarkable compass of talents, his persona tell fascinating personality.

He was wonderful man.

Sources: the Guardian, artaria.com