Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges

Black History month continues with the biographical sketch of Joseph Bologne, aka Chevalier de Saint-Georges. If you have the sound on, you can listen to a bit of this man’s violin concerto (No 2 in A Major, no. 5 op III). It is one of his many, many classical compositions, for the Chevalier de Saint-Georges was one of the most famous musicians in France during the close of the Ancien Régime. Saint-Georges was also a renowned swordsman, violinist, and eventually a military leader for the French Revolutionary army. In his life of 53 years (1745-1799), he traveled in the most rarified circles of French and English nobility, was an accomplished dancer, and wrote operas.

Born from a bi-racial union of a white slave-owning father and an African mother (who was enslaved by Saint-George’s father) in the French colony of Guadeloupe in the Carribean, Saint-Georges moved to France at age seven, where his father arranged to have him reared with the highest training in sword fighting and playing the violin. He excelled at both endeavors. He became the conductor of the orchestra Le Concert des Amateurs in 1773, (which was far more prestigious than the term “Amateur” makes it sound). He made such quick progress in fencing that he was elevated to the position of Gendarme de la Garde du Roi (personal bodyguard to the king) at age 19, and granted the title “Chevalier,” or knight.

Saint-Georges did have to contend with racism, even though he achieved such high public recognition for his skills during his life. For instance, in 1776, he was prevented from becoming the director of the Paris Opera when four of the female singers protested to the Queen that “their honor and delicate conscience” would not be degraded “by having them submit to the orders of a mulatto.” And in 1765 a well-known fencer named Picard — who had been taunting the young Saint-George for being Black — challenged him to a duel. Saint-Georges won, happy to report.