Cultural Music of France

French music history dates back to organum in the 10th century, followed by the Notre Dame School, an organum composition style. Troubadour songs of chivalry and courtly love were composed in the Occitan language between the 10th and 13th centuries, and the Trouvère poet-composers flourished in Northern France during this period. By the end of the 12th century, a form of song called the motet arose, accompanied by traveling musicians called jongleurs. In the 14th century, France produced two notable styles of music, Ars Nova and Ars Subtilior. During the Renaissance, Burgundy became a major center for musical development. This was followed by the rise of chansons and the Burgundian School. France is a very musical country.

France has been an important cultural center of Europe, and the country has signifcantly contributed to the developemnt of European music and cinema. The earliest French influence on Western music is found in the plainsong of the Christian Church of the 8th to 10th century AD. French music dominated the art and music in Europe during the Middle Ages, contributed greatly in the development of European music in all its forms. France has produced several legendary composers in the field of classical music including famous pianist and composer Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy and Hector Berlioz.

French has also contributed a lot to the development of modern western music, including jazz music. The French contribution to jazz music includes the work of Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt, and his partner, the violinist Stephane Grappelli. Jazz is still extremely popular in France.

French are very fond of music and dance, and as a result a wide range of music is popular in the country. Although half of all music albums bought in France are from British or American bands, the French also have their own original French songs.

Music of France is also greatly influenced by the styles brought by immigrants from Africa, Latin America and Asia. Algerian music rai found a large French audience, and an Algerian singer- Khaled's album shot to the top of the French charts in 1992. Modern western pop music has influenced the music in France in a significant way, and the country has seen the rise of popular French rock, hip-hop, and pop performers. A new generation of popular music in France combines sounds of Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Among popular contemporary composers in France include the names of Olivier Messiaen (1908-92) and Pierre Boulez (1925-).

Famous classical musicians in France
 
1.  Hector Berlioz

Hector Berlioz was born in Lyons in Isère, France in 1903. His father was a doctor, and he also started medical studies on the orders of his father. But in 1824 Hector quit medical school and become a musician. In 1826 he entered the Conservatory in Paris as a student. Hector did not come from wealthy families, so he financed his life by writing, singing and teaching. It was then that he had started writing music. Hamlet one of Shakespeare's plays to be one contributing factor Hector likes music. Not just make it like music, but also make him fall in love with Harriet Smithson, who played Ophelia, kecintaanya on those two things play a big role in writing the Symphonie Fantastique, which until today still become one of the best works of Berlioz.

Since successful with his first show in 1839, Berlioz name became famous throughout Europe. Travel Europe continued for several years, and Berlioz continued to write new works. One of the famous works emerged from this period - La Damnation de Faust - who followed the story of Goethe's Faust. He also wrote an opera, The Trojans. Berlioz was one of the best classical musicians of France, because he has succeeded in giving a new color with the music that represents the romantic ideal of nature.
Berlioz is a composer who never gave up, though at first rejected the French society, he remained at work, and now his music an inspiration to other musicians.
Best works of Hector Berlioz
A Symphony Fantastique
A Roman Carnival
J Damnation de Faust
A Requiem, Grande Masse des Morts

2. Georges Bizet

Born in Paris, Georges Bizet was a musical prodigy, he entered the Paris Conservatoire just before his birthday is the 10th. In 1857 he won the Prix de Rome, so he got a scholarship to study in Rome for three years. Apart from the time he passed his entire life in Paris. After returning from Rome, he wrote several operas, including The Pearl Fishers, and the First Symphony. Apart from being a composer, Bizet was a skilled pianist. Carmen is one of the best works of Bizet. Carmen describes the jealousy, passion and sexuality, which is great, and still very popular until entering the 21st century. Carmen got a lot of praise from musicians from that era such as Tchaikovsky and Debussy. But the success of Carmen only briefly felt by Bizet, because he died a few months after his first performance.

Best works of Georges Bizet
Carmen J






 

3. Achille-Claude Debussy

A French composer. His music is considered as a transition from the Romanesque era music to modern music at the beginning of the 20th century. He has wrestled with music since the age of seven years with the piano. At the age of ten, he entered the Paris Conservatoire to continue their education - he then left his plans to become a pianist and focused more on making music. He won the Prix de Rome in 1884. In 1894 Debussy successful completion of an orchestra that is, Prelude à 'L'Après-midi d'un faune (Prelude to the Afternoon of a Fawn). 

In this orchestral works of Debussy really highlight impresionisnya side. This style tends to illustrate the subject in music, he can make music that gently but In 1900 he completed the Debussy Nocturnes, in 1902 the only opera he created was a successful opera Pelléas et Mélisande, and the opera that managed to bring his name increasingly uphill. La Mer his work is completed in 1905, a very impressionistic music, with beautiful music and descriptive. Claude Debussy is a French composer who influenced the styles of world music, her style in music influenced composers even after his time.
Best Works by Debussy
A Prelude à 'L'Après-midi d'un Faune
J Claire de Lune
J Nocturnes
A Pelléas et Mélisande
A La Mer
 
4. Maurice Ravel

Maurice Ravel was born in Ciboure, south of Biarritz in the south west corner of France, in 1875. When he was young his family moved to Paris, though Ravel was to return to Ciboure in the future. He began piano lessons at age seven, and arrange short pieces at the age of 12 or 13. Her parents, though not a musician but encourage him to make music and he studied at the Conservatory of Paris. He was greatly influenced by Liszt in piano playing.

As a diversion from his studies with Ravel fall a group of artists and musicians to 'live it' is called Apache. Tiras stay at the Conservatory for 14 years is remarkable, by Faure as a teacher. While at the Conservatory he came in often, but never won, the competition for the Prix de Rome - the last time for the bitter controversy.

Ravel was to became known as 'impressionist' musicians, along with Claude Debussy. But music is also very structured in the form - Stravinsky called it "the Swiss watchmaker."
One of the early work Ravels, is the opera Daphnis et Chloé. Three years in the making, and many travel disputes about choregraphy and complexity, this opera is now regarded as Ravel's masterpiece.
Bolero turned his hand to many piano works, operas, orchestral music, chamber music and songs in the following years, with works by then become less frequent and without tone.

During the first world war and he became a truck driver, he continued to write and play, especially around Paris. But in 1920 he left Paris and made music, with whom he has never had a close relationship (dating back to the dispute about why he did not win the Prix de Rome in 1915), to return to the French countryside. In 1928 she was around America, received a standing ovation in New York - in contrast with previous reception in Paris.

The last piece of music I have to mention specifically is Pavane pour une Infante défunte, a piece of piano music written in 1899 and then arranged in 1910. This is the orchestra version is more widely played today. Just a short music enough, but designing with beautiful and wonderful to be heard.
In the years since 1932, after a car accident to poor health, he was far less productive. Surgery to improve health is a failure and he died, in 1937.
The best works of Ravel
A bolero
A Daphne et Chloé
Pavane pour une Infante J défunte
 
5. Lili Boulanger

Lili Boulanger was born into a musical family - her sister, Nadia Boulanger in the household described how they "Everybody played music. Music is the beginning and middle part of our existence." My mother and grandmother was a singer, musician brother, and his father, who recognized composer.
Lili His father died when she was only six years old, and Nadia believes that this material plays an important role in Lili desire to express themselves through music by becoming a composer.
By the time he was 16 years old, Lili had told his family he wanted to become a composer, an unusual choice for a young woman, even in the Boulanger family. By the time he began to study the composition of Lili Boulanger was in fact already written several compositions - mostly sacred works, and piano

His enthusiasm continued in 1910 when the lesson began, and made rapid progress, with lessons every day, including weekends. Two years later he managed to gain admission to the Academy of Music, where he studied composition until 1913.

This was followed by Cantata, Cantata in Faust et Hélène, who won an important prize, the Prix de Rome, in 1913 and received five years of international scholarships and international fame. Lili Boulanger soon sign contracts that include fixed annual salary, and the publication of his works. Unfortunately, just after arriving in Rome in March 1914, war broke out in August of that year. Lili then become too involved in charity work, with his brother, to find much time to prepare.

Lili health was never very good, and in 1916 he was told that he only had two years left to live. Lili demotivating Instead, this period is one huge creativity when he rushed to finish the work that he has started, including an opera La Princesse Maleine. Each period is filled with health improvements in a hurry to work, and when it is not likely he will dictate the music for Nadia.

In 1917 his health is very bad, and dictating the latter work, Pie Jesu, to Nadia. He died in March 1918 at age 24, without ever completing the opera.

The best works of Lili Boulange
J The Cantata 'Faust et Hélène
J D'un soir Triste