This Week in Classical Music: September 13, 2021.The Little-Known Boismortier.Today our guest Aleah Fitzwater writes about the French composer Joseph Bodin de Boismortier.Before we get to this interesting but rather obscure Frenchman, we’d like to mention several composers and singers whose anniversaries are celebrated this week.Girolamo Frescobaldi, one of the first composers to write for a clavier instrument, was born on this day in 1583.Also on this day but in 1819 Clara Wieck was born.We know her better as Clara Schumann, Robert’s wife; she was a wonderful pianist and composer and an influential figure in German musical circles.AndArnold Schoenberg, a great modernist composer who pretty much changed the way we listen to music, was also born on September 13, in 1874.Luigi Cherubini, beloved by Beethoven and Rossini, was born September 14th of 1760.And the three singers, Jessye Norman, Elīna Garanča and Anna Netrebko were born on September 15th of 1945, September 16th of 1976 and September 18th of 1971, respectively.Norman and Netrebko don’t need an introduction (Netrebko will turn 50); Garanča is one of the best mezzos singing today.And now to Aleah and Boismortier:
Joseph Bodin de Boismortier was born in Lorraine, France in 1689. He was a Baroque-era composer who excelled at the concerto form. According to Wikipedia, he was the first French composer to use the Italian concerto form. In his lifetime, he became famous and was known as “The French Telemann.”
The Rococo Era.Boismortier was a composer in the Rococo Era. Rococo translates as “Shell work.” This artistic era originated in France in the late 17th century, and eventually spread throughout Europe as a reaction against Louis XIV and the bright Baroque styles. The Rococo era is signified by its darker undertones, and emphasis on ornamentation and detail. Both painters and composers were affected by this new artistic movement.
Musical Education.When Boismortier’s family moved to Metz, France, he began to study with a motetist named Montigny. During his studies, he wrote several Airs. Boismortier’s early compositions such as his Airs went over extremely well in Paris. He was highly influenced by Italian forms, which made his music quite unique during this time. As his skills as a composer grew, his pieces became statelier and more beautiful.
Over 100 Pieces in 20 Years.From 1724 to 1747, Boismortier wrote and published over 100 different pieces. These ranged from full ballets to sonatas and concertos. It is also reported that he wrote a flute method book, but that it was lost. Let’s delve into some of his more popular pieces!
Opera-Ballets.Boismortier wrote two Ballets during his lifetime: Les Voyages de L’Amour, and Don Quichotte chez la Duchesse. According to Gramophone.com, Les Voyages de L’Amour tells the tale of Cupid searching for his love. Eventually, he meets a Shepherdess named Daphne. The instrumentation of Les Voyages includes a romantic yet bright combination of hurdy-gurdy, flute, cello and bassoon. The score is full of playful dances and Rigadoons and is certainly a feel-good ballet.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsErw9kRbRQ (continue reading here).
Don Quichotte chez la Duchesse is a comic ballet based on Cervantes’s book, Don Quixote. This opera, however, only focuses on one short section of the novel. The Duke and Duchess are central in this work, where they are trying to trick the main character. This ballet comique is string-heavy, with an unusual amount of percussion for the era. Once again, Boismortier is showing his playful side: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVAUfGGkZrg
Works for Flute.Boismortier wrote many works for the flute. His Sonatas for Flute and Harpsichord were originally written for the flutist Michel Blavet. Michel Blavet was a flutist and composer. He was known for his impeccable intonation, and for holding his flute to the left, rather than the right. Michel Blavet also performed pieces with and by Telemann, which may be how Boismortier got his title “The French Telemann” as they were both writing for the same flutist.
Other pieces that Joseph Boismortier wrote include: Daphne, the so-called tragédie lyrique, a French opera in Lully’s tradition; Concerto for Cello, Violin, or Bassoon and 6 Sonates à Quatre Parties.
Daphne was never staged. His Concerto for Cello, Violin, or Bassoon, however, was one of a kind. Nobody had ever written a piece that could be performed by multiple instruments before. Le Quatre Parties follows a similar path to that of his Concerto – it may be performed by flutes, violins, or other instruments. Such flexibility in directed instrumentation is something that the world of composition wouldn’t see regularly for another several hundred years. Check them out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7jzfznBO5I and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMeDQ9jSxGU
Success Without Patrons.Many Baroque-era composers flourished with the assistance of patrons. Boismortier, however, had no patrons. He purchased a music engraving license in 1724 and made his living by selling his music directly to the public. It is said that he earned over 50,000 ecus throughout his time as a composer.
Passionate Composer, or Entrepreneur? Once, when he was responding to a raving review of his compositions, Boismortier simply replied “I’m earning money.” This leads me to beg the question: Was Boismortier in it for the cash all along? Either way, he was an ingenious composer and entrepreneur who added greatly to the Rococo Era of French composition.
About the Author: Aleah Fitzwater is a studio flute teacher and music blogger for https://scan-score.com/en/ and https://aleahfitzwater.com/. In her free time, she enjoys arranging rock songs for flute and cooking French cuisine.
Boismortier, 2021
This Week in Classical Music: September 13, 2021. The Little-Known Boismortier. Today our guest Aleah Fitzwater writes about the French composer Joseph Bodin de Boismortier.
Before we get to this interesting but rather obscure Frenchman, we’d like to mention several composers and singers whose anniversaries are celebrated this week. Girolamo Frescobaldi, one of the first composers to write for a clavier instrument, was born on this day in 1583. Also on this day but in 1819 Clara Wieck was born. We know her better as Clara Schumann, Robert’s wife; she was a wonderful pianist and composer and an influential figure in German musical circles. And Arnold Schoenberg, a great modernist composer who pretty much changed the way we listen to music, was also born on September 13, in 1874. Luigi Cherubini, beloved by Beethoven and Rossini, was born September 14th of 1760. And the three singers, Jessye Norman, Elīna Garanča and Anna Netrebko were born on September 15th of 1945, September 16th of 1976 and September 18th of 1971, respectively. Norman and Netrebko don’t need an introduction (Netrebko will turn 50); Garanča is one of the best mezzos singing today. And now to Aleah and Boismortier:
Joseph Bodin de Boismortier was born in Lorraine, France in 1689. He was a Baroque-era composer who excelled at the concerto form. According to Wikipedia, he was the first French composer to use the Italian concerto form. In his lifetime, he became famous and was known as “The French Telemann.”
The Rococo Era. Boismortier was a composer in the Rococo Era. Rococo translates as “Shell work.” This artistic era originated in France in the late 17th century, and eventually spread throughout Europe as a reaction against Louis XIV and the bright Baroque styles. The Rococo era is signified by its darker undertones, and emphasis on ornamentation and detail. Both painters and composers were affected by this new artistic movement.
Musical Education. When Boismortier’s family moved to Metz, France, he began to study with a motetist named Montigny. During his studies, he wrote several Airs. Boismortier’s early compositions such as his Airs went over extremely well in Paris. He was highly influenced by Italian forms, which made his music quite unique during this time. As his skills as a composer grew, his pieces became statelier and more beautiful.
Over 100 Pieces in 20 Years. From 1724 to 1747, Boismortier wrote and published over 100 different pieces. These ranged from full ballets to sonatas and concertos. It is also reported that he wrote a flute method book, but that it was lost. Let’s delve into some of his more popular pieces!
Opera-Ballets. Boismortier wrote two Ballets during his lifetime: Les Voyages de L’Amour, and Don Quichotte chez la Duchesse. According to Gramophone.com, Les Voyages de L’Amour tells the tale of Cupid searching for his love. Eventually, he meets a Shepherdess named Daphne. The instrumentation of Les Voyages includes a romantic yet bright combination of hurdy-gurdy, flute, cello and bassoon. The score is full of playful dances and Rigadoons and is certainly a feel-good ballet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsErw9kRbRQ (continue reading here).
Don Quichotte chez la Duchesse is a comic ballet based on Cervantes’s book, Don Quixote. This opera, however, only focuses on one short section of the novel. The Duke and Duchess are central in this work, where they are trying to trick the main character. This ballet comique is string-heavy, with an unusual amount of percussion for the era. Once again, Boismortier is showing his playful side: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVAUfGGkZrg
Works for Flute. Boismortier wrote many works for the flute. His Sonatas for Flute and Harpsichord were originally written for the flutist Michel Blavet. Michel Blavet was a flutist and composer. He was known for his impeccable intonation, and for holding his flute to the left, rather than the right. Michel Blavet also performed pieces with and by Telemann, which may be how Boismortier got his title “The French Telemann” as they were both writing for the same flutist.
These six sonatas from Boismortier are his most commonly performed works today. You can listen to them here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7Egi0k98vk
Other Pieces
Other pieces that Joseph Boismortier wrote include: Daphne, the so-called tragédie lyrique, a French opera in Lully’s tradition; Concerto for Cello, Violin, or Bassoon and 6 Sonates à Quatre Parties.
Daphne was never staged. His Concerto for Cello, Violin, or Bassoon, however, was one of a kind. Nobody had ever written a piece that could be performed by multiple instruments before. Le Quatre Parties follows a similar path to that of his Concerto – it may be performed by flutes, violins, or other instruments. Such flexibility in directed instrumentation is something that the world of composition wouldn’t see regularly for another several hundred years. Check them out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7jzfznBO5I and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMeDQ9jSxGU
Success Without Patrons. Many Baroque-era composers flourished with the assistance of patrons. Boismortier, however, had no patrons. He purchased a music engraving license in 1724 and made his living by selling his music directly to the public. It is said that he earned over 50,000 ecus throughout his time as a composer.
Passionate Composer, or Entrepreneur? Once, when he was responding to a raving review of his compositions, Boismortier simply replied “I’m earning money.” This leads me to beg the question: Was Boismortier in it for the cash all along? Either way, he was an ingenious composer and entrepreneur who added greatly to the Rococo Era of French composition.
About the Author: Aleah Fitzwater is a studio flute teacher and music blogger for https://scan-score.com/en/ and https://aleahfitzwater.com/. In her free time, she enjoys arranging rock songs for flute and cooking French cuisine.