Biography
Joseph Bologne (Joseph Bologne Chevalier de Saint-George, 1739 - 1799) was one of the most important composers of the 18th century, also A virtuoso violinist and a conductor. Born in 1739 in the Basse Terre of Guadeloupe, his father was a French colonist and his mother was a slave of African descent. The father married another woman in his class, recognized his son, and took him with him, first to Saint Domingue (now Haiti) where Joseph took his first violin lessons and then to Paris when he was 10 years old. His mother was left in Guadeloupe, they were never seen again. Boulogne's life will change dramatically in Paris as he has shown great talent in many different fields, apart from the violin and music. He excelled in horseback riding, dancing, skating and swordfighting, and at one time became the most important swordsman in all of Europe. It was his talents that led Louis XIV to proclaim him Knight of St. George, a title also held by his father, despite a French courtesy code forbidding a black man from inheriting thiw title.
In 1769 he was appointed the first violinist of the Concerts des Amateurs, his first professional position but the real glory came in 1772, when he made his debut as a soloist performing his own violin concertos. . His musical production during this period included various sonatas, a string quartet, seven Sinfonie Concertanti, a ballet (L'amant Anonime) and two operas (Ernestine and La fille-garçon). Until 1773 he was a highly respected musician and assumed the position of director of the Concerts des Amateurs. His appointment in 1775 as director of the Paris Opera was revoked after the singers refused to work with him because of his color.
When the Revolution broke out in 1789, the noble Boulogne joined the newly formed Republic and assembled a military force in northern France. In 1791, he abandoned music altogether and became commander of the National Guard in Lille. However, he was unjustly accused of embezzling funds intended for the troops, his administration was revoked and he was imprisoned. After his release, he left France for Saint Domingue to fight the slave revolt. He returned to Paris in 1797 to and became the director of a new musical organization, "Le Cercle de l'Harmonie". Two years later, on June 10, 1799, he died poor and disappointed by the development of the Revolution, to which he had offered all his wealth.