Castil-Blaze
Encyclopedia
François-Henri-Joseph Blaze, known as Castil-Blaze (1 December 1784 – 11 December 1857), was a French musicologist, music critic, composer, and music editor.
, Vaucluse
. He went to Paris to study law, but also to learn music, at the Conservatoire de Paris
. After having passed several more years in Vaucluse
(southeastern France), Castil-Blaze moved back to Paris.
A large part of his activities consisted of adapting French and foreign opera
for different stages in French provinces. In these cases, Castil-Blaze adapted the libretto
as well as the music. This arranging work was highly criticized, but Castil-Blaze claimed that this permitted part of the public to become familiar with opera.
Castil-Blaze is mostly known as a music critic. Beginning 7 December 1820, he published Musical Chronicles in the Journal des débats
. In these irregularly-published chronicles (about 30 per year), Castil-Blaze seemed to take certain liberties. Most of the chronicles criticized the lyric works, but other were dedicated to thoughts about music, to composers' necrologies (Weber
in 1826, Beethoven
in 1828), or to concert reviews. Castil-Blaze wrote for the Journal des Débats until 1832, when he joined le Constitutionnel; he also collaborated in Fétis
's Revue musicale (Paris, 1827), as well as other periodicals or reviews. He is without a doubt, in France, the first music critic to have studied music.
He is the author of various books and articles on the theory of music, music history, and the history of the theater. He started a series of three works dedicated to three great lyric theaters of Paris: Opéra National de Paris, the Comédie-Italienne
, and the Opéra-Comique
. He was only able to finish and publish the first two before his death; the third remains in manuscript and is at the Bibliothèque nationale de France
. Today, these works arouse the interest of historians, but also their distrust, because they contain numerous anecdotes that cannot always be verified.
As a composer, Castil-Blaze mostly made arrangements, but he was also the author of several original works, particularly of sacred music, of which there are two high masses. Finally, he worked as an editor, first for his own literary and musical works, but he was not limited to this: he was among the editors of the works of Beethoven.
He died in Paris
.
Biography
Blaze was born and grew up in CavaillonCavaillon
Cavaillon is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.-Geography:The Calavon, a tributary of the Durance locally called Coulon, flows westward through the middle of the commune....
, Vaucluse
Vaucluse
The Vaucluse is a department in the southeast of France, named after the famous spring, the Fontaine-de-Vaucluse.- History :Vaucluse was created on 12 August 1793 out of parts of the departments of Bouches-du-Rhône, Drôme, and Basses-Alpes...
. He went to Paris to study law, but also to learn music, at the Conservatoire de Paris
Conservatoire de Paris
The Conservatoire de Paris is a college of music and dance founded in 1795, now situated in the avenue Jean Jaurès in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France...
. After having passed several more years in Vaucluse
Vaucluse
The Vaucluse is a department in the southeast of France, named after the famous spring, the Fontaine-de-Vaucluse.- History :Vaucluse was created on 12 August 1793 out of parts of the departments of Bouches-du-Rhône, Drôme, and Basses-Alpes...
(southeastern France), Castil-Blaze moved back to Paris.
A large part of his activities consisted of adapting French and foreign opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
for different stages in French provinces. In these cases, Castil-Blaze adapted the libretto
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
as well as the music. This arranging work was highly criticized, but Castil-Blaze claimed that this permitted part of the public to become familiar with opera.
Castil-Blaze is mostly known as a music critic. Beginning 7 December 1820, he published Musical Chronicles in the Journal des débats
Journal des Débats
The Journal des débats was a French newspaper, published between 1789 and 1944 that changed title several times...
. In these irregularly-published chronicles (about 30 per year), Castil-Blaze seemed to take certain liberties. Most of the chronicles criticized the lyric works, but other were dedicated to thoughts about music, to composers' necrologies (Weber
Carl Maria von Weber
Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber was a German composer, conductor, pianist, guitarist and critic, one of the first significant composers of the Romantic school....
in 1826, Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
in 1828), or to concert reviews. Castil-Blaze wrote for the Journal des Débats until 1832, when he joined le Constitutionnel; he also collaborated in Fétis
François-Joseph Fétis
François-Joseph Fétis was a Belgian musicologist, composer, critic and teacher. He was one of the most influential music critics of the 19th century, and his enormous compilation of biographical data in the Biographie universelle des musiciens remains an important source of information today...
's Revue musicale (Paris, 1827), as well as other periodicals or reviews. He is without a doubt, in France, the first music critic to have studied music.
He is the author of various books and articles on the theory of music, music history, and the history of the theater. He started a series of three works dedicated to three great lyric theaters of Paris: Opéra National de Paris, the Comédie-Italienne
Comédie-Italienne
Over time, there have been several buildings and several theatrical companies named the "Théâtre-Italien" or the "Comédie-Italienne" in Paris. Following the times, the theatre has shown both plays and operas...
, and the Opéra-Comique
Opéra-Comique
The Opéra-Comique is a Parisian opera company, which was founded around 1714 by some of the popular theatres of the Parisian fairs. In 1762 the company was merged with, and for a time took the name of its chief rival the Comédie-Italienne at the Hôtel de Bourgogne, and was also called the...
. He was only able to finish and publish the first two before his death; the third remains in manuscript and is at the Bibliothèque nationale de France
Bibliothèque nationale de France
The is the National Library of France, located in Paris. It is intended to be the repository of all that is published in France. The current president of the library is Bruno Racine.-History:...
. Today, these works arouse the interest of historians, but also their distrust, because they contain numerous anecdotes that cannot always be verified.
As a composer, Castil-Blaze mostly made arrangements, but he was also the author of several original works, particularly of sacred music, of which there are two high masses. Finally, he worked as an editor, first for his own literary and musical works, but he was not limited to this: he was among the editors of the works of Beethoven.
He died in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Works
- De l'Opéra en France. Paris: Janet & Cotelle, 1820.
- Dictionnaire de musique moderne, 2 volumes. Paris: Au magasin de musique de la Lyre moderne, 1821. 2nd ed., 1825.
- Chapelle-musique des rois de France. Paris: Paulin, 1832.
- La Danse et les ballets depuis Bacchus jusqu'à Mlle Taglioni. Paris: Paulin, 1832.
- Le Mémorial du Grand-Opéra. Paris: Castil-Blaze, 1847.
- Molière musicien, 2 volumes. Paris: Castil-Blaze, 1852.
- L'Académie impériale de musique de 1645 à 1855. Paris: Castil-Blaze, 1855.
- L'Opéra italien de 1548 à 1856. Paris: Castil-Blaze, 1856.
- L'Art des vers lyriques. Paris: Castil-Blaze, 1858 (posth.).
- Histoire de l'Opéra-Comique, unfinished, manuscript.
- Trois quatuors pour deux violons, viole et violoncelle, oeuv. 17. Paris: Lyre moderne, 1810. From Sibley Music Library Digital Scores Collection