Impact of a King on Music and Theater
Great Impact of a King on music and theatre
Sinan Erk Mutafoğlu
11149
HUM 204 Prof. Filiz Ali
December 2nd, 2011
In the 17th century, France witnessed political, social and artistic facts which were triggered by the relationships between Louis the Fourteenth, Jean-Baptiste Lully and Moliere. This relationship between these important figures of 17th century can also be delineated as the connection between the political power, music and theatre. Before emphasizing the interaction among them, it might be illuminating to specify their backgrounds in order to gain an insight about their relations. Following, I am going to specify on their relationships and their influences on French music and theatre.
Louis the 14th, who is named as France’s Sun King, had the longest reign in European history beginning from 1643 until he dies in 1715. He had only five years old when he became the king of France, therefore the reign was almost dominated by the Cardinal until he died in 1661 ( Louis XIV, David J. Sturdy, pg 23 ). Following the cardinal’s death, Louis brought the absolute monarchy at the risk of taking both his mother’s and the council’s reactions (Louis XIV, David J.Sturdy, pg 34). Afterward, these reactions were also gravitated to the relation between Louis, Lully and Moliere. He established Versailles palace which was a symbol of the absolute monarchy, aiming to extract more domination of government from nobility and being distant from the population of Paris. Louis the 14th was a very important figure for the contemporary artists who were mainly supported and protected by their king. He tried to impose the thought of glorifying the monarch and monarchy through the arts and also he used art as a tool for political gain. For this purpose he created the Royal Academy of Dance in 1661 and the
Sinan Erk Mutafoğlu
11149
HUM 204 Prof. Filiz Ali
December 2nd, 2011
In the 17th century, France witnessed political, social and artistic facts which were triggered by the relationships between Louis the Fourteenth, Jean-Baptiste Lully and Moliere. This relationship between these important figures of 17th century can also be delineated as the connection between the political power, music and theatre. Before emphasizing the interaction among them, it might be illuminating to specify their backgrounds in order to gain an insight about their relations. Following, I am going to specify on their relationships and their influences on French music and theatre.
Louis the 14th, who is named as France’s Sun King, had the longest reign in European history beginning from 1643 until he dies in 1715. He had only five years old when he became the king of France, therefore the reign was almost dominated by the Cardinal until he died in 1661 ( Louis XIV, David J. Sturdy, pg 23 ). Following the cardinal’s death, Louis brought the absolute monarchy at the risk of taking both his mother’s and the council’s reactions (Louis XIV, David J.Sturdy, pg 34). Afterward, these reactions were also gravitated to the relation between Louis, Lully and Moliere. He established Versailles palace which was a symbol of the absolute monarchy, aiming to extract more domination of government from nobility and being distant from the population of Paris. Louis the 14th was a very important figure for the contemporary artists who were mainly supported and protected by their king. He tried to impose the thought of glorifying the monarch and monarchy through the arts and also he used art as a tool for political gain. For this purpose he created the Royal Academy of Dance in 1661 and the
References: Films * Moliére(2007) * La Roi Danse(2000) Internet Sources * www.louis-xiv.de/index.php?id=69 * www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Jean_Baptiste_Poquelin_Moliere.aspx * www.awakening-healing.com/Sun_King.htm * www.sinisterfrog.com/writings/louis-xiv Books * Louis XIV, David J.Sturdy