During the French Revolution, Saint-Georges formed a corps of light troops, the Légion Nationale du Midi, intended to comprise 1000 men of color.
Composer Biography
Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, was born in Guadeloupe to a French father and a Senegalese slave, later settling in Paris around 1749.
Compositional Technique
Saint-Georges' string quartets often feature two movements, typically an Allegro followed by a Rondeau, departing from the four-movement structure common in Haydn's quartets.
Composer Biography
Saint-Georges succeeded François-Joseph Gossec, a prominent French composer, as musical director and leader of the Concert des Amateurs orchestra, which became one of France's finest.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Despite his virtuosity as a violinist, Saint-Georges' quartets avoid overt soloistic displays, emphasizing the intimate nature of chamber music and exploring different timbres within the ensemble.
Composition History
Saint-Georges founded the Concert de la Loge Olympique, the orchestra that later commissioned Joseph Haydn to compose his famous set of six 'Paris' symphonies.
Composer Biography
Saint-Georges was a brilliant swordsman, athlete, violin virtuoso, and composer, considered one of the most talented figures of his era.
You might also enjoy...
Serious Business
Dmitri Shostakovich: String Quartets Nos. 1, 2 & 5
