French-Speaking Caribbean ~ Rediscovering the Music of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges
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Central Artist: Chevalier de Saint-Georges
Description:
In this playlist, we explore the life and music of Joseph Bologne who is better known as The Chevalier de Saint-Georges. He was born in 1745 in Guadeloupe to a French plantation owner and an enslaved Senegalese woman, showing that Joseph Bologne’s life was shaped by both privilege and prejudice. Taken to France at the age of seven, Bologne would become a fencer, military leader, and one of the most talented composers and conductors of 18th-century Europe. Joseph Bologne is often referred to as “the Black Mozart,” because he made his mark in Parisian musical society through elegant symphonies, string quartets, operas, and violin concertos. However, despite his immense talent and public acclaim, racial prejudice limited his opportunities, even barring him from leading the Paris Opéra. Still, he left a lasting legacy as one of the first classical composers of Black ancestry, whose works are now being rediscovered and appreciated worldwide. This playlist invites you to experience the brilliance and resilience of a man whose story is finally being heard.
Playlist: Strings of the Revolution
L’Amant Anonyme (The Anonymous Lover) by Joseph Bologne
The first song we will look at is one of Joseph Bologne's most esteemed piece of work. Premiered in 1780, L’Amant Anonyme stands as Joseph Bologne’s only surviving opera and it is an absolute gem. An opéra comique in two acts, the piece blends sung arias with spoken dialogue, following the fashionable style of 18th-century France. The plot, adapted from a play by Bologne’s patroness Félicité de Genlis, centers around themes of hidden love and social masks which is a fitting metaphor for a man who often had to disguise parts of himself to navigate a white society. (You can skip to 3:51)
Eine kleine Nachtmusik (Serenade No. 13 for Strings in G Major) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Let us begin with a classic everyone knows: Eine kleine Nachtmusik (A Little Night Music) which was composed in 1787 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It is one of his most recognizable serenades. This piece is written for strings and often performed by orchestras around the world. But the French-Caribbean connection here is Mozart and Joseph Bologne were contemporaries; one was Austrian, and the other was French-Caribbean. In 1778, they were both living in the same Parisian neighborhood, even sharing a courtyard between their residences. Bologne was music director for Madame de Montesson’s private theater while Mozart was staying at the home of Baron von Grimm. However, they were over a decade apart in age and culturally worlds apart, it was likely that Mozart heard Bologne’s compositions and may even have been influenced by them. We MAY never know for sure what they thought of one another. But placing Mozart’s music alongside Bologne’s offers an intriguing side-by-side of two musical geniuses whose paths once crossed in 18th-century Paris.
Violin Concerto in C Major, Op. 7 No. 1 by Joseph Bologne vs. Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat Major (K. 364) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
However, listeners have pointed out that Mozart could have potentially been directly inspired by Joseph Bologne. This concerto, composed in 1778, shows Bologne’s amazing control of the violin and his signature style: elegant phrasing, daring runs, and a confident flair that just takes your attention. In fact, the opening movement of Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat Major (K. 364), composed the following year, bears a striking resemblance to Bologne’s Op. 7 No. 1. It is more than a coincidence. It is like a quiet acknowledgment of influence.
At a time when composers often borrowed ideas from one another, Bologne was setting a standard even Mozart may have followed. This concerto proves why. Listening to it now, it is clear Bologne was not just keeping up with the era’s musical greats, but he was often one step ahead.
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Joseph Bologne – Symphony in D Major, Op. 3 No. 1: II. Adagio (interpolated in Beyoncé’s “Daughter”)
So, bear with me on this one. Here is where 18th-century classical music meets 21st-century creation. The Adagio movement from Joseph Bologne’s Symphony in D Major, Op. 3 No. 1 was recently reimagined in “Daughter,” a standout track from Beyoncé’s 2024 album Cowboy Carter. Although the credits do not clearly say it, people who know Bologne’s music can hear parts of his emotional string melodies mixed into this modern song. This fusion is more than just a musical sampling though, it is a powerful nod to history. By referencing Bologne, Beyoncé connects her album’s themes of identity, ancestry, and reclamation to the legacy of a Black composer who defied the odds in a racially stratified European society. His Adagio, with its graceful phrasing and melancholy elegance, becomes the perfect undercurrent for a song about generational strength and femininity. Even without knowing the backstory, the emotion carries through. But once you do know? It hits even harder.
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Maya Belsitzman – The Day After Tomorrow
While this song is not directly connected to Joseph Bologne, it does share something deeply important with his work which is the power of strings to convey raw emotion. Maya Belsitzman is a cellist and vocalist that performs this piece with vulnerability, layering classical instrumentation with contemporary expression. Her use of the cello as both a melodic and emotional anchor that mirrors how Bologne wrote for strings, not just to entertain, but to move listeners. Though Belsitzman work came centuries after Bologne, her music feels like a spiritual continuation of what he pioneered. It is easy to imagine Bologne appreciating a piece that is intimate, reflective, and steeped in musical craft like this. In a playlist focused on rediscovering his legacy, this track adds a modern, interpretive twist and reminds us how classical strings continue to inspire across genres and generations.
Will Van De Crommert – Flight by Moonlight
Closing the playlist is a piece that bridges the classical past with modern cinematic talent. Flight by Moonlight, composed by Will Van De Crommert, is part of a ten-string-player suite that traces the moods of a day. This track in particular evokes the stillness and mystery of night. While not a historical composition, it reflects the kind of expressive string writing that Bologne made, which was colorful, textured, and emotionally rich. Like Bologne’s concertos and operatic interludes, Van De Crommert’s music invites us to feel through sound alone. The influence of film music blends with classical structure, creating a timeless piece. It is a reminder that the emotional language of strings which Bologne helped promote still resonates today in unexpected places, from symphony halls to movie soundtracks.
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This blog is very thorough, insightful and organized, great job!
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