Sunday Serendipity

An appropriate title for todays selection. As a student of history and a lover of music. This find was truly serendipitous; not just great music but a great back story as well.

Enjoy, Jack

From Wikipedia

Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (December 25, 1745 – June 10, 1799)

A champion fencer, classical composer, virtuoso violinist, and conductor of the leading symphony orchestra in Paris. Born in the French colony of Guadeloupe, he was the son of George Bologne de Saint-Georges, a wealthy married planter, and Anne dites Nanon, his wife’s African slave.[2]
His father took him to France when he was young, and he was educated there, also becoming a champion fencer. During the French Revolution, the younger Saint-Georges served as a colonel of the Légion St.-Georges,[3] the first all-black regiment in Europe. He fought on the side of the Republic. Today the Chevalier de Saint-Georges is best remembered as the first classical composer of African ancestry; he composed numerous string quartets and other instrumental music, and opera.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN9_weY_Hls
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29 thoughts on “Sunday Serendipity”

  4. X-R,  yep, if they weren’t white they weren’t in our history books as icons of culture.  it was as if no person of color ever made music, art or sense and were noteworthy enough to be remembered.   [sigh].

    that went for women too, white or of color, except for a very very few. [double sigh]

  10. Another good reason to support your local NPR  station. I had never heard of this composer until I read a piece on my local NPR web site. I did a little research with google and youtube. What puzzles me is why hasn’t somebody turned his life into a movie.  Great music,  palace/court intrigue,  the  main character equally at ease with conductor batton or  duelist foil, who would (and did) defend his honor against racist slurs.  A close friend of the queen…..
    Jack

  11. The French are enjoying the self  destruction of the US nd Great Britain. They are quite happy to step in and fill the void. Too bad their record of world leadership rivals Trumps.
    Jack

  13. Phone in caucus — get rid of the notion.  It defeats the purpose.
    If you just want voting — an election would be in order.

  14. Not much happening in France, as far as I can tell SFB is still there and did not leave early.  Too bad.  The rest of the world would be making things better.

  15. jack, interesting initial post!  
    Joe Walsh (R) running against SFB is an SOB, but he seems to be sane. That may be more dangerous to life, liberty, freedom,  and the pursuit of happiness in these United states. 
     

  17. Jack,
    This is a wonderful story you brought us.  Thank you.
    I think Walsh could do some real damage to SFB with Republican voters.  Maybe they will stay home.

  19. KGC is right about the value of the caucus if the only thing that’s important is the vote then they should just have a regular formal primary.   but if the interaction, the arguing, the convincing, the reasoning out on the ultimate choice is what is valued, then the gathering together means more than the vote.

    if a phone is imperative for shut ins and such then perhaps a conference call system could handle it giving the homebound ability to interact with the assembled.

  21. More proof that history is written by the winners.  I didn’t know this wonderful composer existed.  He definitely would be a great subject for a biographical movie.

     

  28. So anyway. Great time with Mrs. P for her birthday micro vacation in Pittsburgh. Then home to grass that’s not growing much anymore, and no, that’s not a complaint. 

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