The famous Chevalier de Saint-George

I just read a fascinating biography by Alain Guédé called Monsieur de Saint-George: Virtuoso, Swordsman, Revolutionary/A Legendary Life Rediscovered. S-G (1745-1799) was a contemporary of Mozart and Haydn, and equally as famous and well regarded. He was an accomplished violinist, composer and music director of the Concert des Amateurs, one of the best orchestras in Paris and most likely all of Europe at the time. Orchestras back then were structured differently. The first violin and timekeeper, somewhat similar to what would now be called concertmaster, would stand while the others sat, and he set the tempos with a baton during rehearsals. If the director was away during the concert, the first violinist was expected to also direct the orchestra. Such a position was only awarded to a talented violinist and someone with composition experience. Scores were not readily available, and the director had to know each entrance of all the instruments. Eventually S-G became director of this orchestra, wrote music for it, and premiered well known composers’ music, such as Haydn’s “Paris” symphonies.

Not only was he a successful musician, but a master swordsman. His father George de Bologne de Saint-Georges (spellings of names often changed during a lifetime), wanted his beloved son to distinguish himself as a consummate athlete, and sent him to study at La Boëssière’s fencing school. Eventually S-G became virtually unbeatable in Europe until age 27, when a young Italian protege won a match. He fought for the Revolution, even though his father was a nobleman, and was also unfortunately imprisoned because of his former wealth and connections to nobility.

So why is this multi-talented fencer, violinist, composer, and France’s first major music director all but a footnote in history? How could someone craft music as well as Mozart and Haydn, yet no major orchestras play his music regularly, if at all? S-G’s mother was an African slave named Nanon, and because of the French code
noir, S-G was not granted the same rights as his white European colleagues. If his father had not loved him, his talent would have been completely underdeveloped, and he would not have lived so well. Money makes for a nicer lifestyle, but it cannot erase blatant racism, hatred, and subversion. Napolean Bonaparte reinstated slavery in 1802, and it was deemed that blacks were incapable of high artistic achievement. S-G, one of the more interesting characters of the Enlightenment, was relegated to obscurity until more recent inquiry.

This book is an interesting read, and a slice of history from a viewpoint often neglected. I encourage more people look into this composer and play his music. Read the book to find out more about S-G’s musical and athletic education, how he taught Marie Antoinette, and his magnanimous nature.