User:Mec32983/Neoclassicism in France

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The effects on Neoclassicism in art are very spotted through artworks and sculptures, but when it comes to music, it is at times overlooked. With the emergence of new ideals, and the shift towards independence from the crown, French society began to see a change in architecture and design, as well as in the arts. Their shift in music commenced the beginning of the romantic era in musical history. The revolts in France at the time, created an environment of hostility and uneasiness, forcing many opera writers to look to France's past in order to portray a sense of unification for the French commoners.[1] In many senses, these operas, and musical settings played political roles in being able to pass on political beliefs on topics, in order to evoke a greater sense of unity in the viewers, believing that many others saw the causes as they personally did.

In the era of the French Revolution, particularly under the rule of Napoleon, the famous composer Étienne Méhul was known for composing many patriotic pieces for the people and nation of France. Most famous of which is Le Chant du depart, later becoming the official anthem of the French Empire in 1794. Often compared to the current national anthem of France, La Marseillaise, Le Chant du depart holds ties to the unity of the French people, as well as the diversity of French society. The points of view of those who sing range from a deputy to their soldiers, mother, wives, husbands, and fathers, depicting the roles they must take and live through during this era of revolution[2]. The grammatical composition itself from the piece generalizes the characters, for them to see each other as equals under the premise of victory and success.

Banned by both Napoleon and Louis XVIII for its revolutionary ties, La Marseillaise, achieves the similar goal of uniting the people of France by evoking from them a sense of patriotism, as it was nicknamed “Chant de guerre pour l'Armée du Rhin” (War song for the Army of the Rhine)[3]. Written by Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle, it displayed the primary aspects of neoclassical music of this era, La Marseillaise tells the story of the strength of the people and army, in this scenario of their strength against the Austrian and Prussian troops[4]. Uniting them through a renewal of both baroque and classical music [5], it is not of the glorious history of France, but of the resilience of its people who fought, and still fight to create the nation in which they dreamed to build. Eventually being brought back as the song of the people, it was restored to its position as national anthem, as it remains to this day. [1] Dotson, Savannah J. “Digital Commons - Hamline University.” French Opera and the French Revolution, Etienne Nicolas Mehul. Accessed April 11, 2022. https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1025&context=dhp.

[2] Domine, Jean-François. “Le Chant Du Départ De Marie-Joseph Chénier Et Etienne Méhul.” Annales historiques de la Révolution française. Armand Colin, Société des études robespierristes, April 20, 2004. https://journals.openedition.org/ahrf/701.

[3] “Modern History Sourcebook: La Marseillaise.” Internet history sourcebooks. Accessed April 11, 2022. https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/mod/marseill.asp.

[4] “What's the Meaning of La Marseillaise?” BBC News. BBC, November 17, 2015. https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34843770.

[5] Farrant, Dan. 2022. ''What is Neoclassicism in Music? An Overview.''