Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687)
Ballet Music for the Sun King

Lully's early childhood is veiled in obscurity. He was born on 28 November 1631, and although he claimed to be the son of Lorenzo de' Lully, a Florentine Gentleman it is more likely that his origins were humble. He learnt the violin from an oldshoemaker monk, and was taken from his native Florence to France by the Chevalier de Guise when he was ten or eleven, so that he could tutor the Chevalier, niece, Mademoiselle de Montpensier, in Italian. His violin-playing found him favour, for he was placed in the Mademoiselle's private orchestra, and was soon outshining the other violinists. His standing in the household suffered a sharp blow, however, when he was dismissed for having composed a satirical air at the expense of the Mademoiselle. By this time, however, he had already gained the attention of young King Louis XIV, and so joined the Royal court.

The King and Lully danc