Joseph D'Ortigue
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Joseph Louis d'Ortigue (22 May 1802 – 20 November 1866) was a French musicologist and critic. A specialist in liturgical music and a conservative Catholic of
ultramontane Ultramontanism is a clerical political conception within the Catholic Church that places strong emphasis on the prerogatives and powers of the Pope. It contrasts with Gallicanism, the belief that popular civil authority—often represented by ...
and royalist leanings, he was a close friend of both
Berlioz Louis-Hector Berlioz (11 December 1803 â€“ 8 March 1869) was a French Romantic music, Romantic composer and conductor. His output includes orchestral works such as the ''Symphonie fantastique'' and ''Harold en Italie, Harold in Italy'' ...
and
Liszt Franz Liszt (22 October 1811 – 31 July 1886) was a Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor and teacher of the Romantic period. With a diverse body of work spanning more than six decades, he is considered to be one of the most pro ...
. His most influential work was ''Dictionnaire liturgique, historique, et theorique de plain-chant et le musique d'église'', but he also wrote for many of the most prominent periodicals of the day, including ''
Journal des débats The ''Journal des débats'' (, ''Journal of Debates'') was a French newspaper, published between 1789 and 1944 that changed title several times. Created shortly after the first meeting of the Estates-General of 1789, it was, after the outbreak ...
'' and '' Le Ménestrel'' where he was the editor-in-chief from 1863 until his sudden death at the age of 64.Chouquet, Gustave (1900)
"Ortigue, Joseph Louis D'"
''
Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians ''The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'' is an encyclopedic dictionary of music and musicians. Along with the German-language '' Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart'', it is one of the largest reference works on the history and th ...
'', Vol. 2, p. 614. MacMillan & Co.
''Dictionnaire de la musique''
"Joseph Louis d'Ortigue"
Éditions Larousse Éditions Larousse () is a French publishing house specialising in reference works such as dictionaries. It was founded by Pierre Larousse, and for some time was known also as Librarie Larousse; its best-known work is the '' Petit Larousse'' sin ...
. Online version retrieved 22 March 2017 .


Early life

D'Ortigue was born in
Cavaillon Cavaillon (; ) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France.
, the son of Jacques and Marie Marguerite (''née'' Gaussen) d'Ortigue. His father was a justice of the peace and former army officer who had been educated at the Oratorian college in Tournon. The d'Ortigue family had lived in
Provence Provence is a geographical region and historical province of southeastern France, which stretches from the left bank of the lower Rhône to the west to the France–Italy border, Italian border to the east; it is bordered by the Mediterrane ...
for nearly six centuries, serving as magistrates, notaries, and legislators. Many other members had served as Catholic clergy or nuns. Five of the twelve brothers and sisters of d'Ortigue's grandfather, Henri Francois Xavier, had entered religious orders (two
Carmelites The Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (; abbreviated OCarm), known as the Carmelites or sometimes by synecdoche known simply as Carmel, is a mendicant order in the Catholic Church for both men and women. Histo ...
, two
Jesuits The Society of Jesus (; abbreviation: S.J. or SJ), also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits ( ; ), is a religious order (Catholic), religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rom ...
and one Bernardin). D'Ortigue received his earliest music education in Cavaillon, studying piano, violin and organ with his mother's cousin Henri Sébastien Blaze and Blaze's son Castil-Blaze. Later, his parents sent him to
Aix-en-Provence Aix-en-Provence, or simply Aix, is a List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, city and Communes of France, commune in southern France, about north of Marseille. A former capital of Provence, it is the Subprefectures in France, s ...
to be educated in the humanities by the Jesuits, and then, acceding to their wishes, he enrolled in the Faculty of Law at the Université d'Aix. However, during his time at the university he also continued his study of the violin and took part in concerts at amateur
salon Salon may refer to: Common meanings * Beauty salon A beauty salon or beauty parlor is an establishment that provides Cosmetics, cosmetic treatments for people. Other variations of this type of business include hair salons, spas, day spas, ...
s and the
Aix Cathedral Aix Cathedral () in Aix-en-Provence in southern France is a Roman Catholic church and the seat of the Archbishop of Aix-en-Provence and Arles. The cathedral is built on the site of the 1st-century Roman forum of Aix. Built and re-built from the ...
.Lacroix, Sylvia L'Écuyer (ed.) (2003). ''Joseph d’Ortigue: Écrits sur la musique 1827–1846'', pp. 23–24; 95; 117. Société française de musicologie.


First steps as a writer

After finishing his law studies in 1827, d'Ortigue went to Paris to serve his internship. However, he soon became involved in the musical and literary life of the city, and in 1827 the journal ''Mémorial Catholique'' published his first piece of music criticism. He took up an appointment in Apt as a ''juge auditeur'' in 1828, but after a few months made the decision to abandon a legal career for a literary one. He returned to Paris in 1829, continued writing for ''Mémorial Catholique'', and produced his first
pamphlet A pamphlet is an unbound book (that is, without a Hardcover, hard cover or Bookbinding, binding). Pamphlets may consist of a single sheet of paper that is printed on both sides and folded in half, in thirds, or in fourths, called a ''leaflet'' ...
, ''De la Guerre des dilettanti''. The pamphlet which was critical of
Rossini Gioachino Antonio Rossini (29 February 1792 – 13 November 1868) was an Italian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. He gained fame for his 39 operas, although he also wrote many songs, some chamber music and piano p ...
's influence on France's operatic and artistic life in general caused a considerable stir. Long an admirer of the Catholic priest and philosopher Felicité de Lamennais, d'Ortigue sent him a copy of ''De la Guerre des dilettanti''. Lamennais invited him to work and study at La Chênaie, his house in
Brittany Brittany ( ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the north-west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica in Roman Gaul. It became an Kingdom of Brittany, independent kingdom and then a Duch ...
. During his six months at La Chênaie d'Ortigue immersed himself in Lamennais's extensive library, became acquainted with the German philosophers, and researched the music of the ancient Greeks and Romans. He would later help Lamennais write the sections on music in his ''Esquisse d'une philosophie''.Lacroix, Sylvia L'Écuyer (April 1982)
"Joseph d'Ortigue et la linguistique de la musique"
''Études littéraires'', Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 11–31. Retrieved 22 March 2017 .
Gibbs, Christopher H. and Gooley, Dana (eds.) (2010)
''Franz Liszt and His World''
pp. 303–309; 332. Princeton University Press.
D'Ortigue returned to Paris in July 1830 when the city was in the midst of the 1830 Revolution. He became a founding editor of the short-lived journal ''L'Avenir'' which was established by Lamennais in 1830 to espouse his Liberal Catholic philosophy. D'Ortigue also wrote for several other journals including ''Le Correspondant'', ''Le Courrier de l'Europe'', ''La Quotidienne'', ''Gazette musicale de Paris'', and ''Revue de Paris''. In 1833 he published ''Le Balcon de l'Opéra'', a collection of his music criticism, and the following year a two-volume novel, ''La Sainte-Baume''. Partially autobiographical, ''La Sainte-Baume'' recounts the pilgrimage of two artists to
Sainte-Baume The Sainte-Baume (Provençal dialect, Provençal: ''Massís de la Santa Bauma'' according to classical orthography and ''La Santo Baumo'' according to mistralian orthography) is a mountain ridge spreading between the Departments of France, depart ...
and expresses many of the philosophical and aesthetic views, especially those concerning music, that would mark d'Ortigue's work. During this time he also established close friendships with
Franz Liszt Franz Liszt (22 October 1811 – 31 July 1886) was a Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor and teacher of the Romantic music, Romantic period. With a diverse List of compositions by Franz Liszt, body of work spanning more than six ...
and
Hector Berlioz Louis-Hector Berlioz (11 December 1803 â€“ 8 March 1869) was a French Romantic music, Romantic composer and conductor. His output includes orchestral works such as the ''Symphonie fantastique'' and ''Harold en Italie, Harold in Italy'' ...
and wrote the first serious biographies the composers. His biography of Berlioz was published in ''Revue de Paris'' in 1832. His biography of Liszt was published in ''Gazette musicale de Paris'' in 1835. It was d'Ortigue who arranged for Liszt, who shared many of his views on Catholicism and the role of the artist in society, to meet Abbé Lammenais in 1834. Both Liszt and d'Ortigue were also among the earliest champions of Berlioz's music.


Mature years

In February 1835 d'Ortigue married Fanny (Suzanne Françoise) François at
Issy-les-Moulineaux Issy-les-Moulineaux () is a commune in the southwestern suburban area of Paris, France, lying on the left bank of the river Seine. Its citizens are called in French. It is one of Paris's entrances and is located from Notre Dame Cathedral, whic ...
where d'Ortigue was living at the time. Two of the couple's three children, Marie and Jacques, were born there. In 1840 they moved to a town house in Paris on the
Rue Saint-Lazare The Rue Saint-Lazare () is a street in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, 8th and 9th arrondissement of Paris, 9th arrondissements of Paris, France. It starts at 9 Rue Bourdaloue and 1 Rue Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, and ends at the Place Gabriel-Péri ...
where d'Ortigue would live for the rest of his life and where their youngest child, Jeanne, was born in 1843. From the late 1830s d'Ortigue took on a variety of posts in addition to his music journalism. In 1837 he was hired to catalogue the medieval music manuscripts in the Royal Library and in 1839 he was appointed professor of choral singing at the
Lycée Henri-IV The Lycée Henri-IV () is a public secondary school located in Paris. Along with the Lycée Louis-le-Grand, it is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious and demanding sixth-form colleges ('' lycées'') in France. The school educates more ...
. During this time he was also involved in organ manufacturing and sales and published articles on the history of the organ. It was an interest he would maintain throughout his life, later advising Berlioz, who was a musical instrument judge at the 1851 Great Exhibition, on the merits of French organs and composing some pieces of organ music himself. His reaction to the treatment of Berlioz's opera ''
Benvenuto Cellini Benvenuto Cellini (, ; 3 November 150013 February 1571) was an Italian goldsmith, sculptor, and author. His best-known extant works include the ''Cellini Salt Cellar'', the sculpture of ''Perseus with the Head of Medusa'', and his autobiography ...
'' by the
Paris Opera The Paris Opera ( ) is the primary opera and ballet company of France. It was founded in 1669 by Louis XIV as the , and shortly thereafter was placed under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Lully and officially renamed the , but continued to be kn ...
, the public, and most music critics led to his publication of a 350-page work, ''De l'École musicale italienne et de l'administration de l'Académie royale de musique, à l'occasion de l'opéra de M. H. Berlioz'', in which he strongly defended Berlioz. Three years later d'Ortigue was made a Chevalier of the
Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...
. In 1852 d'Ortigue published the work which cemented his reputation as a musicologist—''Dictionnaire liturgique, historique et théorique de plain-chant et le musique d'église''. This dictionary of
plain chant Plainsong or plainchant (calque from the French ; ) is a body of chants used in the liturgies of the Western Church. When referring to the term plainsong, it is those sacred pieces that are composed in Latin text. Plainsong was the exclusive for ...
and
liturgical music Liturgical music originated as a part of religious ceremony, and includes a number of traditions, both ancient and modern. Liturgical music is well known as a part of Catholic Mass, the Anglican Holy Communion service (or Eucharist) and Evensong, ...
was over a thousand pages long and fifteen years in the writing. In 1857 he collaborated with Louis Niedermeyer in the founding of ''La Maîtrise'', a journal devoted to church music which published many of Niedermeyer's works. They also co-wrote ''Traité théorique et pratique de l'accompagnement du Plain-Chant'', a treatise on the theory and practice of plain chant accompaniment published in 1856. After the demise of ''La Maîtrise'', d'Ortigue and founded the ''Journal des Maîtrises'' in 1862. This periodical was short-lived and reflected d'Ortigue's increasingly conservative principles concerning in sacred music. Throughout this time, he continued writing as a music critic for multiple French periodicals and in 1861 published ''La musique à l'église'', an anthology of those reviews and articles which pertained to sacred music. The last three years of d'Ortigue's life found his influence and authority on musical matters at their height. In 1863, he took over from Berlioz as the chief music critic of ''
Journal des débats The ''Journal des débats'' (, ''Journal of Debates'') was a French newspaper, published between 1789 and 1944 that changed title several times. Created shortly after the first meeting of the Estates-General of 1789, it was, after the outbreak ...
'' and became the editor-in-chief of '' Le Ménestrel''. He was invited to judge international competitions, sat on various government commissions, and became a member of the music academies of both German and Italy. D'Ortigue died suddenly of a stroke on 20 November 1866. He was 64. Armand de Pontmartin wrote in one the many obituaries lamenting his early death that d'Ortigue had died in the fullness of his intellectual powers and at the climax of his career, surrounded by a brilliant group of younger musicians and critics who looked to him for guidance. After d'Ortigue's funeral at Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, he was buried in
Montmartre Cemetery The Cemetery of Montmartre () is a cemetery in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, France, that dates to the early 19th century. Officially known as the Cimetière du Nord, it is the third largest necropolis in Paris, after the Père Lachaise Cemet ...
. The eulogy at his graveside was given by Auguste Léo, a young editor at the ''Journal des débats'' who also read out passages from the journal's tribute to d'Ortigue written by
Silvestre de Sacy Antoine Isaac, Baron Silvestre de Sacy (; 21 September 175821 February 1838), was a French nobleman, linguist and orientalist. His son, Ustazade Silvestre de Sacy, became a journalist. Life and works Early life Silvestre de Sacy was born in Pa ...
. D'Ortigue's widow, Fanny, died in 1881 at the age of 79.Heugel, Jacques-Léopold (14 August 1881)
"Nécrologie"
'' Le Ménestrel'', 47e Année, No 37, p. 296


Notes


References


External links


Joseph d'Ortigue
(on the
International Music Score Library Project The International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP), also known as the Petrucci Music Library after publisher Ottaviano Petrucci, is a subscription-based digital library of public-domain music scores. The project uses MediaWiki software, and ...
)
Joseph d' Ortigue (1802-1866)
(at the
Bibliothèque nationale de France The (; BnF) is the national library of France, located in Paris on two main sites, ''Richelieu'' and ''François-Mitterrand''. It is the national repository of all that is published in France. Some of its extensive collections, including bo ...
) *Ortigue, Joseph Louis d' (1833)
''Le balcon de l'opéra''
Renduel (on
archive.org The Internet Archive is an American non-profit organization founded in 1996 by Brewster Kahle that runs a digital library website, archive.org. It provides free access to collections of digitized media including websites, software applic ...
) *Ortigue, Joseph Louis d' (14 June 1835)
"Études biographiques: Franz Liszt"
''Gazette musicale de Paris'', 2e Année, No. 24, pp. 197–204 (on archive.org) *Ortigue, Joseph Louis d' (1840)
''Du théâtre italien et de son influence sur le goût musical françois''
Pollet (on archive.org) *Ortigue, Joseph Louis d' (1853)
''Dictionnaire liturgique, historique et théorique de plain-chant et le musique d'église''
J-P Migne (on archive.org) *Ortigue, Joseph Louis d' (1861)
''La musique à l'église''
Didier (on archive.org) {{DEFAULTSORT:Ortigue, Joseph d 1802 births 1866 deaths 19th-century French musicologists 19th-century French journalists French music critics People from Cavaillon