The Music Plays On — Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges

Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges

Joseph Bologne was born in 1745 on the Caribbean island and French department, Guadeloupe. His father, Georges de Bologne Saint-Georges, was a wealthy white planter and his mother was a slave and personal maid to Bologne Saint-Georges’ wife. Joseph was taken into the family, however, and raised in the household. In 1753, his father took him to Paris for his education and at the age of 13 was enrolled in the Académie royale polytechnique des armes et de ‘l’équitation (fencing and horsemanship). His talent in fencing were so remarkable that just four years later at age 17 he was considered extraordinary, famously beating the fencing master, Alexandre Picard, in Rouen. Upon graduating in 1766 he was made a Gendarme du roi (officer of the king’s bodyguard) and given the title, Chevalier. He was known henceforth as Chevalier de Saint-Georges. A gifted horseman, dancer, and overall sportsman, he cut an impressive figure through Parisian society. Here is a great documentary about this remarkable man.

However, on top of all of this, Saint-Georges was also an incredible violinist. In…