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“My capriciousness holds sway over everything that breathes. Nothing lasts in my Empire. And he who raises himself up there, is soon beaten down.”

During the seventeenth century, opera was being transported from Italy to countries all over Western Europe. It seems that wherever opera sprouted up, the foundations for a bright musical future were established. France was no exception. The composer Jean Baptiste Lully was the first to bring opera to France and in turn established the beginnings of the French ballet and the French opera. Lully’s imaginative style became the standard for French operas in the following centuries.

Jean-Baptiste Lully was born in Italy with the very Italian name of Giovanni Battista Lulli. He was the son of a poor Florentine miller, but his incredible, precocious skill for the guitar, the violin, and singing caught the attention of a prominent French government official who was visiting the area. Lulli was taken to France at the age of 14 where he worked in the French court. While there, he learned to speak French and soaked in the French culture. It didn’t take long for Lully’s tremendous talent to catch the eye of the king himself, Louis XIV. Louis XIV became a huge Lully fan, and he appointed Lully to be the official composer of the royal household.

Over the years Lully’s power and influence increased by leaps and bounds. He created his own orchestra, La Petite Bande, and his “little band” performed a number of his ballets to enthusiastic audiences. He also collaborated with the French poet Moliere and produced a number of highly successful operas. By the age of forty, Lully’s power over the French music scene reached its peak when he purchased the exclusive right to produce operas.

With his power, however, came many enemies. Rival French composers were extremely jealous of Lully’s musical monopoly. The French composer Henri Guichard, for example, was enraged when Lully prevented him from opening his own theatre. A huge rivalry ensued between the two composers until Guichard took drastic measures. Allegedly, Guichard attempted to poison Lully by putting arsenic into Lully’s snuff. Lully won the court case and his status as the top composer in France, along with his snuff, remained secure.

It seems a shame that after achieving and surviving so much power and fame, Lully should die such a tragic (and clumsy) death. One day, while conducting his Te Deum, Lully accidentally smashed his foot with a six-foot staff he was using to keep time to the music. His foot quickly became gangrenous and he died within two months.

Listening to Lully

There's no doubt that Lully left a profound mark on French music. Himself an accomplished dancer, Lully's music, and his operas in particular, put important emphasis on dance. All of operas contain ballet music as major parts in the story. The French people adored this method of storytelling and French composers continued to include large amounts of ballet music in their operas for centuries to come. Because of this fact, I would suggest listening to Lully's ballet music for your first impression of this composer.

Lully Recommendations

Operas

- Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme

- Armide

Orchestral Music

- Ballet Music for the Sun King

Sacred Vocal Music

- Te Deum


Jean-Baptiste LULLY (1632-1687) Musical Monopolist “My capriciousness holds sway over everything that breathes. Nothing lasts in my Empire. And he who raises himself up there, is soon beaten down.” - Text from Lully’s Poem of Fortune During the seventeenth century, opera was being transported from Italy to countries all over Western Europe. It seems that wherever opera sprouted up, the foundations for a bright musical future were established. France was no exception. The composer Jean Baptiste Lully was the first to bring opera to France and in turn established the beginnings of the French ballet and the French opera. Lully’s imaginative style became the standard for French operas in the following centuries. Jean-Baptiste Lully was born in Italy with the very Italian name of Giovanni Battista Lulli. He was the son of a poor Florentine miller, but his incredible, precocious skill for the guitar, the violin, and singing caught the attention of a prominent French government official who was visiting the area. Lulli was taken to France at the age of 14 where he worked in the French court. While there, he learned to speak French and soaked in the French culture. It didn’t take long for Lully’s tremendous talent to catch the eye of the king himself, Louis XIV. Louis XIV became a huge Lully fan, and he appointed Lully to be the official composer of the royal household. Over the years Lully’s power and influence increased by leaps and bounds. He created his own orchestra, La Petite Bande, and his “little band” performed a number of his ballets to enthusiastic audiences. He also collaborated with the French poet Moliere and produced a number of highly successful operas. By the age of forty, Lully’s power over the French music scene reached its peak when he purchased the exclusive right to produce operas. With his power, however, came many enemies. Rival French composers were extremely jealous of Lully’s musical monopoly. The French composer Henri Guichard, for example, was enraged when Lully prevented him from opening his own theatre. A huge rivalry ensued between the two composers until Guichard took drastic measures. Allegedly, Guichard attempted to poison Lully by putting arsenic into Lully’s snuff. Lully won the court case and his status as the top composer in France, along with his snuff, remained secure. It seems a shame that after achieving and surviving so much power and fame, Lully should die such a tragic (and clumsy) death. One day, while conducting his Te Deum, Lully accidentally smashed his foot with a six-foot staff he was using to keep time to the music. His foot quickly became gangrenous and he died within two months. Listening to Lully There's no doubt that Lully left a profound mark on French music. Himself an accomplished dancer, Lully's music, and his operas in particular, put important emphasis on dance. All of operas contain ballet music as major parts in the story. The French people adored this method of storytelling and French composers continued to include large amounts of ballet music in their operas for centuries to come. Because of this fact, I would suggest listening to Lully's ballet music for your first impression of this composer. Lully Recommendations Operas - Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme - Armide Orchestral Music - Ballet Music for the Sun King Sacred Vocal Music - Te Deum

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