Classical Music Around The World: France, Part 1

Classical music can take us on a trip around the world with ease. Today, we visit France, learn about the country’s famous composers, their music, and a little bit of history. In my very first post on this blog, I talked about how music is a reflection of the culture in which it is created. One thing we need to explore when discovering great music is the historical events surrounding it. 

The first thing we need to understand is that composers in France led the world in musical innovations in the middle ages, but by the 1600 and 1700s, Italians were doing far more creative things. The French were still making music, and there is still plenty to discover. 

The Baroque Period

In the Baroque period (1600 - 1750), the most influential composers in France worked for the kings. One of the leading composers in the 1600s was Jean-Baptist Lully. He was the court composer for King Louis the Fourteenth most of his career as a musician. During this time, he continually worked to create a truly French style. To highlight his role in the history of France, I’ve included his “March of the King’s Musketeers.” The Musketeers were the royal guards of the king.

After Lully, Jean-Phillip Rameau became the most prominent French composer until the French Revolution. Be sure to listen to the keyboard work of his included in the playlist.

The Classical Period

The late 1700s were a stormy time in French history. A revolution took place from 1789 to 1799, and the entire direction of the country changed, most notably, France no longer had a king. Therefore, composers created music that was better liked by the people of France. There are only a few well known French composers from the late 1700s, but Étienne Nicolas Méhul (1763 - 1817) stands out. He was the first composer to be called a Romantic, and his music inspired the French people during the revolution. He composed many operas the highlighted the ideals of the French Revolution. Still, he is remembered most for writing Chant Du Départ, the first national anthem of France following the Revolution. This song is about winning peace and liberty from the tyrant king and tells the stories of men and women who gave their lives for freedom.