Talk:Galant style

Merger proposal
The article focusses on music, which is only one aspect of the whole phenomenon. Literary artfacts from Madame de Scudéry's novels to Verlaine's Fêtes Galantes (1869) belong into this field, a whole fashion of "gallant conduct" was extremely important in Germany before music adopted the style. One should somehow merge this article and the German parallel-article (which is particularly weak when it comes to music). --Olaf Simons 09:13, 10 August 2005 (UTC)


 * I agree with the above editor. This page should be an overview of 'galant' style in all its forms. I have just found out that there is already a 'galante music' article, but it is completely different from this one - I suggest the content from here on music gets merged there, and this article is completely rewritten. Clavecin 12:23, 10 June 2007 (UTC)


 * I also think that this article should be merged with Galante music as far as it concerns the musical style. This article should be rewritten as an overview article about all aspects of the galant style in the 18th century, concerning music, fashin, science, philosophy, literature and so on. --FordPrefect42 (talk) 10:17, 6 December 2008 (UTC)


 * Agree that this article covers mostly the same ground as Galante music. They should be merged I think. Suggest that unique information here be merged into that one, and this one be deleted unless non-musical subject matter for the Galant/Galante style becomes available. Opus131 (talk) 08:06, 28 January 2013 (UTC)


 * I have transferred all relevant information to "galante music", which unfortunately left very little behind. I am not qualified to write on architecture or painting. Most of the "history" section was only tangentially relevant and assumed a common thread of influence throughout music history, neatly divided into discrete periods. I did not transfer this to the music article, and believe it to be no great loss. — Preceding unsigned comment added by MtheV (talk • contribs) 01:42, 20 February 2014 (UTC)


 * A bit of a pre-emptive strike, considering that this proposal lay dormant for over four years before Opus131 revived it. On the other hand, I haven't seen any objections here in the last three week, either, and this was not formally proposed for debate, so I'm not going to stand in the way. There is one small problem, though: further down this Talk page there an objection to using the spelling with a final "e" instead of just "galant". If there is consensus for this, then the spelling of the target article ought to be changed, while we are going about these things.—Jerome Kohl (talk) 02:00, 20 February 2014 (UTC)

For a new article on the topic
Maybe I should offer some stuff the new article could need - special English passages:

The Ladies Library [...] by a Lady. Published by Mr. Steele, 1 (London: J. Tonson, 1714), p.25:

The gallant Writers have distinguish'd themselves as much as any by their Politeness. The Poyson in them is conceal'd as much as possible, and 'tis insensibly that they would lead the Heart to Love: Let them therefore be avoided with Care; for there are elegant Writers enough on Moral and Divine Subjects, and the Danger of reading soft and wanton Writings, which warm and corrupt the Imagination, is so great, that one cannot be too careful in the Choice of our Authors. Too much of this will be found among the Works of Poetry and Eloquence, with which none but Ladies of good Taste and solid Judgment should be trusted. The like Cautions are necessary with respect to Musick and Painting; the Fancy is often too quick in them, and the Soul too much affected by the Senses.

The Works of T. Petronius Arbiter [...] the second edition (London: S. Briscoe/ J. Woodward/ J. Morphew, 1710), Bl. A3r.:

This general Inclination to Petronius is not confin'd to those learned Men of my Acquaintance, but reaches all such who have ever discover'd any just claim to Knowledge and good Taste; because there is a sort of particular Sympathy betwixt those Persons of Quality who love Petronius, and the Knowledge of the Belles Lettres. For he, of all the Ancients, seems only to have known, and to have had a Taste of that true Gallantry, which at this time finishes the Character of Politeness.

Entertainments of Gallantry: or Remedies for Love. Familiarly Discours'd, by a Society of Persons of Quality (London: J. Morphew, 1712), p.61-62.

[...] all Books are not in our Sphere; we ought to leave the most serious Studies entirely to the Men, and not profess our selves Mistresses of the Greek and Latin, but confine our Genius to the Belles Lettres, and be satisfy'd with what is sufficient to raise us a degree above the vulgar Ignorance. Authors of Gallantry suit us best; they refine our Wit, without puzling our Senses; and we may find Advantages of such Lectures, in our daily Conversation.

Entertainments of Gallantry: or Remedies for Love. Familiarly Discours'd, by a Society of Persons of Quality (London: J. Morphew, 1712), p.75-77:

[...] thank Reason, we have Disabus'd our Senses, and such fatiguing bombast Volumes have given place to more entertaining Novels, and Histories of Gallantry Which are not at all preferable to Romances, interrupted a Gentleman, omitting some few, you find'em so flat, and void of Entertainment, that they require much Leisure and more Patience to read 'em out. Never was Mankind more pester'd with ill Productions than in the present Age. Every one must write, 'tis a Disease every Wittling is infected with, and the itching Desire to see their Names in print, is so raging, that they are well contented to proclaim themselves ridiculous, if the World is but well satisfy'd of their being Authors. Here's one just come to Town; another that yet carries about him the Marks of Discipline; talks Dutch, French or English, but void of Learning, and unexperienc'd in Books well worded; yet this Fellow, nothing will serve him but writing a Book: Well; he begins by translating some unfortunate Author, [...] into English: With this design he selects some doting Author, that has before doz'd over the same Subject; and dictates his Periods after his Example, 'till having only chang'd some of the Words, and those too for the worst [...]. Another resigning himself to his extravagant fancy, and unbounded Imagination, sets himself to penning some ridiculous Adventures, which he has the Confidence to call Novels. Now pray tell me, ought not this to be regulated? And in respect to good Sense, ought we not to have a Comptroller General of Wit, as well as a Justice of Peace? Stop your Career Sir, interrupted a Lady, your Enthusiasm has transported you a little too far; if the Books you seem so inveterate against, chance not to please you, prithee don't read 'em, no one obliges you. All Men's Tastes are not so delicately Nice as yours; many read for plaesure only, and are less solicitous for the Useful than the Agreeable. Histories of Gallantry are very Proper to relax the Mind; and the very worst have something in 'em diverting. I think instead of railing thus at our Modern productions, you ought to give those Persons Thanks, who wear themselves out for our Entertainment: The very Number of Authors is agreeable, and advantageous; [...]. If some new Author has the ill Fortune to displease, be not however too hasty in condemning him; Time may produce, even for him something more accomplish'd. The first Flight is never a Master-piece; [...]. Never discourage a young Author by despising his first Works, nor make him despair, utterly throw away his Pen; but on the contrary animate him by small Commendations, which may in the end prove so many Spurs to Perfection.

Certainly it's confusing to have the music article called 'galante' while the general article 'galant', which implies the two are different concepts, whereas they are just spelling variations. And as evidenced e.g. by Gjerdingen's excellent book, the music is just as often called 'galant' as any other spelling. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ilfilo (talk • contribs) 12:31, 27 January 2010 (UTC)