Role

:

Composer

Country

:

France

Birth

:

May 10, 1760

Death

:

June, 1836

Period

:

Classical

 

 

Romantic

Genre

:

Vocal

 

Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle was a French composer and army officer who is best known for writing the words and music to "La Marseillaise," the national anthem of France. He was born on May 10, 1760, in Lons-le-Saunier, a small town in the Jura region of eastern France. His father was a lawyer and his mother was the daughter of a wealthy merchant. Rouget de Lisle showed an early interest in music and began studying the violin and piano at a young age. In 1776, Rouget de Lisle moved to Strasbourg to study law at the University of Strasbourg. While there, he continued to pursue his musical interests and became involved in the local music scene. He joined a musical society called the Société des Amis des Arts and began composing music for their concerts. He also became friends with a number of musicians and artists, including the painter Johann Heinrich Dannecker and the composer Franz Xaver Richter. After completing his studies in Strasbourg, Rouget de Lisle returned to his hometown of Lons-le-Saunier and began practicing law. However, he continued to compose music in his spare time and became known locally as a talented musician. In 1789, he was appointed as a captain in the French army and was stationed in Strasbourg. It was during his time in Strasbourg that Rouget de Lisle composed "La Marseillaise." The song was written in April 1792, shortly after the outbreak of the French Revolution. Rouget de Lisle was asked by the mayor of Strasbourg to write a patriotic song to rally the troops who were being sent to Paris to defend the revolution. He wrote the words and music to "La Marseillaise" in one night, and it was first performed by a group of soldiers from Marseille who were marching through Strasbourg. The song quickly became popular and was adopted as the national anthem of France in 1795. Rouget de Lisle became a national hero and was awarded the Legion of Honor by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1804. However, he struggled to make a living as a composer and was forced to sell the rights to "La Marseillaise" to a publisher in order to support himself. Despite his financial difficulties, Rouget de Lisle continued to compose music throughout his life. He wrote a number of operas, cantatas, and other works, many of which were inspired by his experiences in the army. His music was generally well-received, but he never achieved the same level of fame as he did with "La Marseillaise." Rouget de Lisle died on June 26, 1836, in Choisy-le-Roi, a suburb of Paris. He was buried in the cemetery of Montmartre, but his remains were later moved to the Panthéon in Paris, where he was interred alongside other French national heroes. Today, Rouget de Lisle is remembered primarily for his role in writing "La Marseillaise." The song has become an enduring symbol of the French Revolution and the struggle for liberty and equality. It is played at official ceremonies and sporting events throughout France and is recognized around the world as one of the most stirring national anthems.

More....