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1779 Saint-Georges Symphony No. 2 in D major

1779	Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges		Symphony No. 2 in D major
Instrumentation		Strings, 2 oboes, 2 horns
Movements		I: Allegro (D) II: Andante (d) III: Presto (D) Listen to whole symphony with score
Overview		Joseph Bologne Chevalier de Saint-Georges was the illegitimate son of a wealthy plantation owner and one of his slaves. He moved to France at the age of seven and was educated in a Jesuit boarding school initially before moving to Paris. At the age of 13, he was enrolled in a private fencing academy and became one of the best swordsmen in the city, joining the king’s bodyguard when he graduated. It is unclear exactly where and how Saint-Georges received his musical education, but by his early twenties he was also becoming well known as an excellent violinist and joined the composer Gossec’s new orchestra in 1769. He appeared as a soloist and by 1773 he was well regarded enough by Gossec to be appointed conductor when the older man took up a new post. In 1785, conducting a reformed orchestra, Le Concert Olympique, Saint-Georges premiered Haydn’s Paris symphonies. The exceptionally high standard achieved by the Olympique under his direction made him the obvious choice to take over the Paris Opera, but his mixed-race heritage created a backlash that cost him the post. He continued to juggle military, diplomatic and musical careers for the rest of his life, dying at the age of 56 of a bladder condition in relatively humble circumstances for someone of his military and musical eminence.
Essay Points
B) 1^st mov. / sonata		The first movement has the bustling diatonic energy of the early Classical period, outlining a brief binary form structure tending towards sonata form. It’s briskly energetic first idea gives way to a much gentler second theme in the dominant. Ex. 1: Opening of first movement: The beginning of the second half development offers a moment of surprise as Saint-Georges plucks a rising flourish heard in the viola part during the previous codetta out of obscurity and creates a striking new theme that catapults us into the relative minor. It is this sort of little touch that keeps this relatively simple music so fresh. Ex. 2: Beginning of the second half of first movement:
C) 2^nd mov.		Saint-Georges reduces the orchestra just down to strings for a gentle Andante. Elegant and lyrical, this movement has some beautifully simple and effective two-part writing alongside the homophony of the main theme. Ex. 3: Opening of second movement:
E) Finale		The final presto is in a very fast 6/8. The Rondo-like theme is contrasted in a central section that turns to the tonic minor. Towards the end of this section the musical surprisingly peters out and pauses before continuing. Ex. 4: Opening of finale: Ex. 5 : Music petering out in middle section: