Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (25 December 1745 to 10 June
1799), was a French Creole,Read More
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Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (25 December 1745 to 10 June
1799), was a French Creole,
a champion fencer, a virtuoso violinist and composer, and as a free man of
color conducting leading
orchestras in Paris. During the French Revolution he volunteered in the War
of the First Coalition against
Austria and headed a regiment, the American Cavalry Legion. In 1796 he left
for Saint-Domingue, then in
full revolt and attacked by British troops. Within a few months he returned
to France and spent the remainder of his colorful life devoted to his
violin.
It is thought he received music and composition lessons from
FranAois-Joseph Gossec. In 1769 he joined a
new symphony orchestra, ALe Concert des amateurs,A consisting of amateurs
and professionals, and founded by Gossec; two years later he was appointed
concertmaster and started composing. In 1773, he was appointed the
orchestra's conductor. In 1775, he introduced the symphonie concertante,
using the possibilities offered by a new bow.
In 1776, he was proposed as the next conductor of the Paris Opera but was
subsequently denied this role by a petition.
In 1778, he was living at the house of the Duc d'OrlAans, when Mozart also
was a guest for two and a half
months. After Le Concert des Amateurs disbanded in 1781, he joined a new
orchestra formed by a masonic lodge that was called Le Concert de la Loge
Olympique. He stopped composing instrumental works altogether.
In 1784 he commissioned Joseph Haydn to write six symphonies for them.
These works were premiered in 1787 and are known today as Haydn's
"Paris"Asymphonies, nos. 82-87.