Lully

(lul'-li), Jean Baptiste de, compr. b. Florence, 1633; d. Paris, Mar. 22, 1687. Learned violin and guitar ‘from Francis can monk; at 13 m service of Mile, de Montpensier in whose kitchen he was one day playing and being overheard was transferred to her private band; expelled for satire; after some instruction from Mertu, Roberdet, and Gigault, became member of King's band; 1652 director of small band which eclipsed the older; 1653 as court composer, composed masques, etc.; 1672 obtained letters patent from king for Acad§mie royale de musique (which still exists as Grand Op6ra); the similar privilege granted 1669 to Perrin and Cambert was revoked, so L. “ stole ” the credit of originating the opera; his first work Lesf de V Amour et de Bacchus 1672, and the 19 succeeding ones (Th£ , Psyche, Arrmde etc.) rank as the first French operas; introduced accompanied recitative and established French standard of correct declamation; strong sense of dramatic effectivene and gift for rather sweet melodies enabled him to make succe and to have high standard despite certain monotony of rhythm and thinne of orchestration.