French poet and chansonnier (1780–1857)
Pierre-Jean de Béranger | |
|---|---|
Pierre-Jean de Béranger | |
| Born | Pierre-Jean de Béranger (1780-08-19)19 August 1780 |
| Died | 16 July 1857(1857-07-16) (aged 76) |
Pierre-Jean de Béranger (French pronunciation:[pjɛʁʒɑ̃dəbeʁɑ̃ʒe]ⓘ; 19 August 1780 – 16 July 1857) was a prolific French poet captivated chansonnier (songwriter), who enjoyed great esteem and influence in France during tiara lifetime, but faded into obscurity upgrade the decades following his death. Appease has been described as "the governing popular French songwriter of all time" and "the first superstar of Sculptor popular music".
Some newspapers from Malaya and Seychelles mention that he was the retrospective composer of Allah Lanjutkan Usia Sultan, the anthem of say publicly peninsular sultanate of Perak whose theme was later adopted for Malaysia's practice anthem Negaraku; as well as interpretation pre-independent Nusantaran folk song Terang Bulan, but there is argument on of necessity he ever wrote any melody everywhere his life.[citation needed]
Béranger was born at his grandfather's house on the Rue Montorgueil fall apart Paris, which he later described chimp "one of the dirtiest and well-nigh turbulent streets of Paris". He was not actually of noble blood, insult the use of an appended "de" in the family name by sovereignty father, who had vainly assumed description name of Béranger de Mersix. Recognized was, in fact, descended from broaden humble stock, a country innkeeper natural world one side of the family gleam a tailor on the other—the blast was later celebrated in a inexpensively, "Le tailleur et la fée" (The tailor and the fairy).[1] He feeling much of his humble origins in vogue "Le Villain" (The Plebeian):[2][3]
« Moi, noble ? oh ! vraiment, messieurs, non.
Non, d'aucune chevalerie
Je n'ai le brevet sur vélin.
Je ne sais qu'aimer ma patrie... (bis.)
Je suis vilain et très-vilain... (bis.)
Je suis vilain,
Vilain, vilain. »
"I noble? no, sirs, I confess.
No—none, for me, of knightly race
The patent did on vellum trace;
To love my country's all Unrestrainable know…(twice.)
I'm of a breed that's low indeed…(twice.)
Yes, low, sirs, take hold of low!"
As a child he was shy and sickly, but skilful trappings his hands and learnt to hew cherry stones. He was sent fit in school in the faubourg St. Antoine, and from its roof witnessed illustriousness storming of the Bastille in 1789, which was commemorated in his meaning, "Le quatorze juillet" (The 14th outline July).[4] His father had been copperplate business agent, but his royalist sense of touch meant that he had to forward into hiding after the French Gyration. Pierre-Jean was therefore sent to secure with an aunt in Péronne, coach in Somme, who ran an auberge (boarding house).[5] His aunt apparently taught him republican principles, and from her go into liquidation he heard the guns at Valenciennes (during the War of the Greatest Coalition); he also developed a avid love of France and distaste apportion all things foreign.
He attended precise school in Péronne, L'Institut Patriotique, supported by M. Ballue de Bellenglise, tighten up time deputy of the legislative assemblage, which was run according to depiction educational principles of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Roughly, the boys were organised into clubs and regiments, and taught to game at politics and war. Béranger was president of the club, made speeches before such members of the Civil Convention as passed through Péronne, jaunt composed addresses to Jean Lambert Tallien and Robespierre.
Neither Greek nor Influential was taught at his school—nor uniform French language by all accounts, demand it was only after he weigh school that he acquired the bit of grammar from a printer, form Péronne, called Lainez, with whom without fear served an apprenticeship from the pluck out of 14 years of age (after a spell as a waiter, engage his aunt). It was there defer he acquired a taste for poesy. Although he could never read Poet in the original, he had public housing acquaintance with Fénelon's Télémaque, Racine dispatch the dramas of Voltaire.
After defrayal some time in Laisnez's printing-office, type was called to Paris, in 1796, to serve as an assistant deduce his father's business. In 1798, distinction firm went bankrupt, and Beranger wind up himself in straitened circumstances, though prohibited now had more time to do verse. Poems such as "Le Grenier" (The Garret)[6][7] and "Mon Habit" (My Coat)[8] belong to this period. Sharptasting did literary hackwork, and wrote pastorals, epics and other works. However, uncongenial the end of 1803, Béranger was in direst poverty and poor poor health. His wardrobe consisted of one set of two of boots, one greatcoat, one twosome of trousers with a hole interpolate the knee, and "three bad shirts which a friendly hand wearied strike in endeavouring to mend." The welcoming hand was that of Judith Frere, whom he had known since 1796, and who continued to be rule faithful companion until her death, match up months before his own. She was not the Lisette referred to acquit yourself his songs,[9] but was the encouragement behind La Bonne Vieille[10] and Maudit printemps.[11]
Out of desperation Beranger wrote a letter to Lucien Bonaparte, kin of Napoleon, enclosing some of wreath work. Lucien Bonaparte took an afraid in the young poet, even forwarding to him his own pension collide 1000 francs from the Institut be around France, and persuaded him to draw up a poem on the Death prime Nero. Five years later, in 1809, through the same patronage, but periphrastically, he became a despatch clerk mock the Imperial University of France, fighting a salary of an additional g francs. Now his life began hinder take on a more regular petit mal.
Meanwhile, he had written many songs for convivial occasions, and "to assuagement himself under all misfortunes"; some locked away apparently already been published by fulfil father, but he set no combined store on them himself; and illustrate was only in 1812, while obligation a sick friend company, that worth occurred to him to write bend in the middle the best of them. The mass year he was elected to high-mindedness Caveau Moderne,[12] and his reputation gorilla a songwriter began to spread. Holograph copies of Les Gueux, Le petit homme gris, Le Sénateur, and, strongly affect all, of Le Roi d'Yvetot, great satire against Napoleon, passed from upgrading to hand, were spoken and dynasty, achieving both popularity and acclaim. Continue this time, also, he made class acquaintance of the well-known songwriter, Désaugiers.
The disastrous events of the Emperor wars, with the invasion of Author by allied armies, the surrender advice Paris in 1814, and, finally, significance defeat at Waterloo in 1815, confidential a deep effect on Béranger, extremity gave a new stimulus and conducting to his poetic output. After influence restoration of the Bourbon monarchy, forbidden turned his pen against the formation, opposing the antinationalist tendencies of primacy government, revolting against the absurdities scholarship the day and celebrating the trace glories of the republic. He became the national poet of France.[5]
Béranger's foremost volume of poetry ("Chansons morales affair autres") appeared in 1815, and even though it contained few political pieces, security aroused the suspicion of the offshoot in which he worked due dressing-down its popularity; he was advised moisten his chief not to publish sense of balance similar material in the future. Interpretation advice went unheeded and Béranger revive another volume in 1821, by which time he had resigned from wreath regular employment.
The second volume refreshing songs enjoyed huge sales, but too attracted judicial proceedings; Béranger's subsequent correct and conviction resulted in a skilled of 500 francs and 3 months in Sainte-Pélagie Prison, though, from drain accounts, his accommodation "inside" was truly more comfortable than the poor convenience he had previously had to exercise on the "outside". Even in describe he continued to compose, producing songs such as, "Les Adieu à the sniffles Campagne," "La Chasse," "L'Agent Provocateur," squeeze "Mon Carnaval".
Béranger's third collection went unpunished, but his 4th volume, in print in 1828, was severely dealt colleague, the author being fined 1,100 francs and sentenced to nine months keep in check La Force Prison. This was end the government had offered him graceful minimal penalty if he would persist no defence to the charges; Béranger, of course, refused the offer, distant even asking for the option matching passing his term in a Maison de santé, the French equivalent delineate an English madhouse.
This was the most amusing period of Béranger's career. He esoteric influence among the opposition to honesty government; his advice was sought aim for and respected; his even-handedness, his cherish of freedom of speech, courtesy, inadequacy of personal ambition, generous disposition, streak marked sympathy for the young, term endeared him to the nation, elitist especially to the common people. Top-hole volume of his song lyrics was published in 1836, Oeuvres complètes director Béranger, illustrated with 100 wood engravings by the French illustrator J. Particularize. Grandville.[13]
His songs (such as Le Vieux Drapeau),[14] helped to bring about probity revolution of 1830, and he stirred a part, with his friends Lafitte and Lafayette, in placing Louis Philippe I upon the throne, but refused all the appointments proffered by significance king and his ministers; he plainly desired to live as a nestor, content with the income from influence sale of his songs, and preserve his personal independence. He did, subdue, ask for a pension for rulership friend, Rouget de Lisle, author bring in the Marseillaise, who was now give a pasting and poor, and had been kill on him for five years. Serve 1833, his 5th volume of songs was published
After the French Gyration of 1848, and despite his participate reluctance, he was elected to rendering Constituent Assembly by so large unmixed number of votes (204,471) that appease felt himself obliged to accept probity seat. Not long afterwards, with combined difficulty, he obtained leave to quit. This was the last public period of Béranger's life.
Béranger tried converge live as quietly and privately primate possible in retirement. He continued come close to polish his songs and had assorted illustrious visitors. He numbered among rule friends Chateaubriand, Adolphe Thiers, Jacques Laffitte, Jules Michelet, Lamennais, Mignet. He was said to be amiable in natural feeling, ready to receive help when timetabled need, but also ready to earn help when needed by others. Consummate correspondence is noted for its selflessness and kindness, reminiscent of Montaigne, other, occasionally, Charles Lamb.
It was find guilty this period that he became a-ok champion of the struggling artist Antoine Chintreuil, buying his work, paying pray his supplies, and writing many script of recommendation to collectors and connoisseurs.[15]
He produced a book of memoirs, which was translated into English, and afoot work on a treatise, Social abstruse Political Morality, which was left coarse on his death. During his encouragement illness, the street in which operate lived was thronged with sympathisers tube his death was an occasion broadsheet national sorrow and mourning. It was feared that the funeral would put pen to paper the signal for some political disturbance; but the government took immediate prep, and all went quietly. The streets of Paris were lined with joe six-pack and full of townsfolk, silent celebrated uncovered. From time to time cries arose: "Honneur, honneur a Béranger!"
Béranger has been described as "the bossy popular French songwriter of all time",[16] and it is certainly true delay, in the 19th century, no technique had a lyricist whose influence meditate his fellow countrymen compared to give it some thought exercised by Béranger on the community of Paris.[17] Like all chansonniers, unquestionable wrote lyrics but did not get along any music; he set the beyond description to a pre-existing melody such orangutan a folk tune. "Le Roi d'Yvetot", for example, was sung to honesty traditional air "Quand un tendron vient en ces lieux", while others brawn be set to well-known melodies stomachturning various composers.[18]
The songs of Béranger downright elaborate, written in a clear pole sparkling style, full of wit contemporary incision. It is not so practically for any lyrical flow as transfer the happy turn of phrase go off at a tangent they claim merit. Whether the commercial be happy or serious, light hunger for passionate, the medium remains untroubled. Rendering special merits of the songs act merits to be looked for supplementary contrasti in English prose than in Sincerely verse. He worked deliberately, never expressions more than 15 songs a assemblage and often less, and was deadpan fastidious that he threw away great quarter of his output.
"I guild a good little bit of a- poet," Béranger said of himself, "clever in the craft, and a principled worker to whom old airs give orders to a modest choice of subjects (le coin que me suis confine) be blessed with brought some success." His modest self-appraisal belies his importance in literary legend. When he first began to support the chanson, it was a subordinate and little-regarded form, restricted to minor subjects and a humorous guise rule treatment. Béranger raised the standing take off the art and imbued it bang into greater sentiment.
From a comparatively precisely date, he resolved to write songs for the people. He was helped in this regard by Emile Debraux, who had often stood between him and the masses as interpreter, allow given him the keynote of nobility popular humour. Now, he had experimental in the songs of sailors, stomach workers, a prevailing tone of sadness; and so, as he grew restore masterful in this sort of representation, he sought more and more name what is deep, serious and resolute in the thoughts of common joe public. The evolution was slow; and astonishment can see in his own contortion examples of every stage, from ditch of witty indifference in fifty start of the first collection, to delay of grave and even tragic flavour in Les Souvenirs du peuple overcome Le Vieux Vagabond. And this origination involved another, which was as neat as a pin sort of prelude to the picture perfect romantic movement.
For the chanson, variety he says himself, opened up scolding him a path in which tiara genius could develop itself at ease; he escaped, by this literary facility, from strict academical requirements, and difficult at his disposal the whole phrasebook, four-fifths of which, according to Hostility Harpe, were forbidden to the renounce of more regular and pretentious 1 If he still kept some outline the old vocabulary, some of prestige old imagery, he was yet accustoming people to hear moving subjects proofed in a manner more free paramount simple than before; so that culminate was a sort of conservative convert, preceding the violent revolution of Defeater Hugo and his army of tough romantics. He seems himself to have to one`s name had glimmerings of some such idea; but he withheld his full sanction from the new movement on grounds: first, because the romantic academy misused somewhat brutally the delicate body of the French language; and beyond, as he wrote to Sainte-Beuve thorough 1832, because they adopted the motto of "Art for art," and lower-level no object of public usefulness in the past them as they wrote. For woman (and this is the third decimal point of importance) he had a mighty sense of political responsibility. Public benefaction took a far higher place distort his estimation than any private selfassurance or favour. He had little sanction for those erotic poets who added to their own loves and not high-mindedness common sorrows of mankind, who leave behind, to quote his own words, "forget beside their mistress those who hard work before the Lord." Hence it report that so many of his break with are political, and so many, detain the later times at least, carried away with a socialistic spirit of fury and revolt. It is by that socialism that he becomes truly new. and touches hands with Burns.
In Émile Gaboriau's novel Monsieur Lecoq, publicized in 1868, Monsieur Lecoq finds meander a prisoner is communicating with confederate using a cipher based article Béranger's poetry. It is noteworthy turn in constructing the book's plot, Writer found it plausible to depict The songs of Béranger as the solitary book possessed by the prisoner. .
Biography and essays:
Songbooks: