Napoleon, and the Bonaparte family’s connection to music, and particularly the guitar, is a fascinating episode in the history of French music. Napoleon elevated himself from First Consul to Emperor of France in 1804, for which Beethoven erased him as dedicatee of his Eroica Symphony. As emperor, he gave kingships and dukedoms to his siblings in conquered territories. He also arranged royal marriages for siblings to create alliances with kingdoms beyond direct French control. In keeping with the pattern of European courtly life, these monarchs maintained or sponsored court musicians. This was a period of Guitarramanía in Europe. So the guitar naturally became the Bonaparte family’s instrument of choice. Guitar music and songs were composed to celebrate both the French revolutionary and imperial causes. Once Napoleon was exiled to the Atlantic island of Saint Helena in 1815, his sister, Pauline, sent him a guitar made by Flambau Ainé. Napoleon’s second wife, the Austrian Archduchess Marie Louise, also had two guitars from the renowned Ainé workshops of Paris and Mirecourt. Napoleon was initially housed with the Balcombe family at ‘The Briars’. On his very first evening, the young daughter, Betsy Balcombe sung the Scottish air ‘Ye banks and braes’ to him, and he replied by singing her the stirring patriotic song ‘Vive Henri Quatre’. She deemed the emperor a good judge of music, but with a most unmusical voice. Napoleon, a Corsican of Tuscan ancestry, thought little of both English and French music. He deemed Italian music the best. Another time, Napoleon requested she sing ‘Partant pour la Syrie’, composed by his step-daughter Hortense Bonaparte, daughter of Joséphine. He brought her the sheet music. However, the piano was “discordant ... from damp and disuse”. The only person capable of fixing it was Mr. Guiness, Band-master onboard the “General Kid”. However, the Governor refused him permission to leave his ship. So the song was sung with guitar. Mademoiselle Betsee, quite bravely, also sang him “Adieu my Clementina!” by John Davy, a lament in English on the Bourbon prince, Duc d’Enghien, who was executed on Napoleon’s orders in 1804. The English authorities were concerned at the friendship between the Balcombes and Napoleon, so the family was recalled to England. Napoleon gave Betsy his guitar when she left. She went on to become a music teacher in London, and later published her intriguing girlhood encounter in “Recollections of Napoleon at St. Helena”. She was often visited by French heads of state and dignitaries, due to her connection with the former emperor. The family eventually moved to Mount Martha in Australia, building a new ‘The Briars’ homestead, where Napoleon’s guitar now lives. This recording is associated with a performance at “The Briars”, Mount Martha, as part of the Peninsular Summer Music Festival. (Tyrone Landau, September 2015) Hortense de Beauharnais (1783-1837) Daughter of Josephine Bonaparte, and step-daughter of Napoleon Bonaparte. She married Napoleon’s brother Louis, becoming Queen of Holland. 01 Partant pour la Syrie - 03:14 The young soldier Dunois, heading for Napoleon’s campaign in Syria in 1798, requests the hand of Isabelle. Her father grants it, and everyone acknowledges she is the most beautiful, and he the most valiant. The song is attributed to Hortense de Beauharnais, though she may have been assisted by Louis Drouet, flautist and teacher to her husband, Louis Bonaparte. Dominique-Pierre-Jean Garat (1764-1823) Employed by Joséphine, and dedicated songs to her daughter, La Reine Hortense. 02 Les miracles de la beauté - 03:45 The child Fanfan, the youth Cléon, the happily married Ariste, and the elderly Orgon are all bewitched by the miracle of beauty. The song is dedicated to Charles- Henri Plantade, singing teacher to Hortense de Beauharnais, and director of music for Louis Bonaparte as King of Holland. 03 L’autre jour - 03:07 The other day I thought he heard and saw the name of my dear Annette. But she is far away. It is my heart consumed by longing. Ferdinando Carulli (1770-1841) Carulli celebrated Napoleon’s career in music, and composed these songs for the contralto Giuseppina Grassini, Napoleon’s mistress. 04 Frena le belle lagrime - 02:44 Hold back your tears, my love. Seeing them, I lose all control and my heart is in turmoil. 05 Amo te sola - 03:01 I have loved you only. You will be the first and last object of my adoration. The innocence of our love makes it stronger. 06 Ombre amene - 03:55 Sweet flowers, tell me where my lover went. And gentle breezes, tell him to return. Girolamo Crescentini (1762-1846) A renowned castrato, and singing teacher to the imperial family, he had the order of the Iron Crown of Lombardy conferred on him by Napoleon. 07 Tu mi chiedi - 02:20 You ask me why I weep. The reason is you have abandoned me, in spite of my fidelity. 08 Dove rivolgo - 02:28 Where can I turn my steps if my beloved leaves me? This is such cruel torment. 09 O teneri piaceri - 01:52 Why am I not free from these tender memories? Why can’t this heavy breathlessness find relief? 10 La promessa - 01:51 I can’t believe I will ever stop loving you. Even as a jest, I couldn’t deceive you. Mauro Guiliani (1781-1829) Guitar virtuoso, who was teacher to Napoleon’s second wife, Empress Marie-Louise. She gave him a guitar, also made in the Ainé workshop, and conferred on him the title of Cavaliere del Giglio. Sechs Lieder Opus 89 11 Abschied I - 02:41 To break one’s oath is too sweet; to do one’s duty too harsh. And no-one will make promises contrary to his heart. With magic songs you lured him once again onto that unsteady boat of folly. Why try and hide? Be open. Sooner or later you’ll have your words returned. Today my duty is done. From now on I will shield you from nothing. But please forgive a friend who turns away from you, and returns quietly back on himself. The lyrics are by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Goethe met Napoleon in Erfurt in 1808, and was awarded the Légion d’Honneur by the emperor. 12 Lied aus der Ferne - 04:41 If you see a fleeting stranger smile ... if you hear a tuneful rustling in the trees ... if you feel the touch of a gentle breeze... if you hear music in the starlight ... all these are my soul, promising you joy and peace. The lyrics are by Friedrich von Matthisson, Intendant of the Court Theatre of Württemberg from 1811, when that kingdom was in alliance with Napoleon. Two years later the King of Württemberg switched to the alliance against the French emperor. 13 Abschied II - 05:17 Farewell mother earth. Conceal me in your womb, and let my sorrows end. Flowers bloomed, but not for me. People danced, but my restlessness was in vain. A more beautiful day will greet me. How I dreamt life would be beautiful for me. Now, father, let me sleep. The lyrics are by Friedrich Schiller. A fierce opponent of tyranny, his unfinished play, Czar Demetrius, from 1804-5 may have been modelled on Napoleon. 14 Lied - 02:23 We walked hand in hand. Our eyes spoke, our cheeks burned, we sighed together. I gave her flowers and asked if she loved me. She blushed and nodded. The lyrics are by August von Steigentesch, poet and diplomat, who was Generaladjutant in the Austrian army, within the coalition against Napoleon. 15 Ständchen - 03:10 Everything is at rest. Even the grieving sleep. If my beloved Dora is still awake, does she hear my final song? If she is asleep, may my lute not disturb her slumber. My song will become her dream. The lyrics are by Christoph August Tiedge. In his epic poem, Wanderungen durch den Markt des Lebens, he talks of Napoleon, the God of the times, and the most exalted throne, as fallen, left with only evil pride on his lonely rock. 16 An das Schicksal - 03:02 Fate, hear my final wish. Give me a cottage in a peaceful valley, with a garden that smiles back at me. And hopefully there also grow a daughter and son. I’ve searched this noisy world a long time for such a peaceful spot. The Lyrics are by Christian Ludvig Reissig. He served briefly in the Austrian army during the War of the Fifth Coalition against Napoleon in 1809, before being wounded and discharged. Felice Blangini (1781-1841) Director of music, and a lover, of Pauline Bonaparte, then served Jérôme Bonaparte in the kingdom of Westphalia. 17 Ne m’oublies pas - 02:32 A woman implores her husband not to forget her, as he heads to military glory. He assures her he won’t. This song was dedicated to Napoleon’s sister Pauline, then married to the Duke of Guastalla, commander of divisions 27 & 28 of Napoleon’s army. The lyrics of the imploring woman were written by Louis Philipe, Comte de Ségur, a state official, who was stripped of his duties for supporting Napoleon after his escape from Elba. The soldier’s responses were written under a pseudonym by the Comte Charles de la Garde, who was behind an abortive attempt to make Lucien Bonaparte King of Poland. Domenico Puccini (1772-1815) Director of Elisa Bonaparte’s Capella di camera in Lucca. He was grandfather of the more famous Giacomo Puccini. 18 Ah, non è van il pianto - 01:33 Crying is not in vain. It can break another’s strength, and bring mercy from a loved one. 19 Non so dir se sono amante - 01:39 I don’t know if I’m in love. But I know that on seeing you, my heart aches and my soul sighs. 20 Sopra il suo stelo - 01:25 A fading flower is given new life from the sun. In the same way, my sorrow is relieved by your beauty. Fernando Sor (1778-1839) Joseph Bonaparte’s tenure as King of Spain was never secure enough to create a functioning court, as the Peninsular War raged. Fernando Sor was driven to compose his Canciones patrioticas when Napoleon’s Imperial forces invaded in 1808. But his support for French revolutionary principles also alienated him from the Spanish authorities. 21 Adónde vas Fernando incauto - 04:10 Sor mocks King Fernando VII de Borbón, who had sought Napoleon’s aid in his repressive regime. Napoleon had him imprisoned for six years, while Joseph Bonaparte ruled Spain. Sor describes Ferdinand as a traitor, and calls for the overthrow of both foreign and Borbón oppression. 22 Himno de la Victoria 03:20 This song salutes the Spanish fighters who repelled the French imperial army under Marshall Moncey and Count Dupont, while invoking the mediaeval Spanish heroes El Cid and King Alfonso VIII. The lyrics are by Juan Bautista Arriaza, a Spanish diplomat in London at the time of the Battle of Trafalgar. The Peninsular War led him to produce his Poesías patrióticas, which inspired both Fernando Sor and the painter Francisco de Goya. John Davy (1763-1824) Initially a violinist in the orchestra at Covent Garden, he become a composer for the Theatre Royal in London. 23 Adieu my Clementina! - 03:36 The supposed farewell to his loyal troops by Louis Antoine de Bourbon, Duc d’Enghien. He was executed on Napoleon’s orders in 1804, despite a request for mercy from Joséphine herself. On hearing Betsy Balcombe sing this song, Napoleon claimed the duke had been legitimately executed for ‘having borne arms against the republic.’ The Duke had secretly married Charlotte Louise de Rohan a month before his execution. Clémentine Caroline de Rohan was her sister.