Joseph Bologne, Chavalier de Saint-Georges
Saint-Georges has the distinction of being the first classical composer of African ancestry. His parents were a wealthy slave owner on a plantation in the West Indies and a slave, and many elements of Joseph’s life would make a great movie plot!
1. Saint-Georges was very, very good at several things. He was -
· a brilliant violinist
· a champion sword fighter (or fencer)
· a brave soldier
· an excellent sportsman
· a daring horseman (he was very fast on horseback!)
· a fashion icon, with lots of admirers
· an imaginative composer, opera director and orchestra leader
· a prisoner of war
2. Listen carefully to Saint-George’s symphonies below, which of his many activities do you think the music is describing? Can you draw Saint-Georges doing your favourite thing from the list above OR, fold your page into 8 segments, open it and draw all 8 versions of this incredible man – one in each segment!