Some composers were at the front of the line when God was handing out talents.
In every field, there are people who stand out —brilliant minds who achieve levels of excellence that the rest of us can only dream of. While they usually have to work hard to hone their skills, they are often born with such an extraordinary amount of talent that it’s almost unbelievable.
It’s truly astounding when someone excels in two completely different fields. Can one be both a great composer and a top athlete or scientist? Yes, it is possible! These three composers prove it.
François André Danican Philidor (1726-1795) came from a musical family and followed in his father’s footsteps as a composer. However, he gained even greater fame as a chess grandmaster. To this day, chess enthusiasts know the Philidor Defense, and he achieved a high level of expertise in endgames, particularly in smothered mates. As a composer, he mainly wrote operas and was a pioneer in opéra-comique, a genre that was considered a minor art form during his lifetime but eventually came to dominate French opera in the nineteenth century, partly thanks to Philidor’s contributions. We will listen to the overture from one of those operas.
The Philidor defense
Joseph Boulogne, chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799; ets) has a truly remarkable life story. As the illegitimate child of a French nobleman and a Guadeloupean slave, he didn’t seem destined for a brilliant career. However, his father acknowledged him, and one thing led to another: Joseph was knighted and built a stellar reputation in Paris. Initially, he gained fame as a military man and athlete, but at some point in his life, he discovered the violin, and it was a great discovery. His violin concertos are virtuosic, yet sensitive, and expertly crafted. In recent years, he has often been claimed by activists, which is a shame because there are so many better reasons than his skin color to listen to the concertos of Saint-George!
Just like Philidor, William Herschel (1738-1822) initially made a name as a composer, but eventually became more famous because of something else. He became an astronomer and discovered the planet Uranus—a groundbreaking revelation, as astronomers had long believed that there were no planets beyond Saturn. He also discovered infrared radiation. With such remarkable achievements, it is no surprise that his accomplishments as a composer were overshadowed. This is a shame because he composed an impressive body of work. It wasn’t until 2003 that the London Mozart Players recorded his music on CD. Like Uranus, Herschel’s music is a discovery that has proven to be well worth the wait.
Planet Uranus as we know it, Herschel merely saw a dot.
Playlist
1. François-André Danican Philidor – Ouverture Le jardinier et son seigneur
2. Joseph Boulogne, chevalier de Saint-Georges – Violin concerto no. 2 in D, op. posth.
3. William Herschel – Symphony nr. 13 in D
4. William Herschel – Keyboard trio in D, opus 4 no. 4
