Before There Was Mozart: The Story of Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-George

Wife and husband duo Lesa Cline-Ransome and James E  Ransome serve as the author and illustrator of this beautiful account of an obscure musician who grew up on a sugar plantation and eventually lit up the stages of Paris with his violin playing. Joseph Boulogne was born on Christmas Day, 1739, the first son of plantation owner Guillaume-Pierre Tavernier de Boullongne and one of his African slaves, Nanon. Influenced both by music he heard in the port when he ran errands with his mother and the strains of music from the slave quarters, Joseph exhibited musical talent from a young age  he learned to play the violin under the instruction of his tutor, Monsieur Plato.

At the age of nine, he moved with his parents to France and settled into the bustling Paris life with his father. He attended the French Violin School and quickly rose to the top of his class. When he received an Amati violin on his 21st birthday he decided to study music more seriously with two renowned musicians – Jean-Marie Leclair and Joseph Gossec. His extraordinary achievements earned him respect throughout the Parisian music community even though many were still suspicious of him due to his color. He began composing as well, and it was one of his compositions that caught the ear of a young concert-goer, inspiring his own compositional efforts. That young man whose own works were soon performed on the same stage? Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

A delightful read showcasing the life of an important musician who should not be forgotten!

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