This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1891 Excerpt: ...St. Nicolas-desChamps, and ultimately succeeded in gaining admittance to the Grande Bande des Violons du Roi, which consisted of forty performers. Some few airs which he wrote for the violin were favorably received and rendered in the presence of the Le Grande Monarque himself. His Majesty was, indeed, so pleased with the young artist (Lully was then nineteen), that he appointed him Inspector of the violins. And this was not all, for the king organized for Lully's satisfaction another band of musicians, called Les Petits Violons, in order to distinguish them from the "Grande Bande." From that moment a brilliant future awaited the composer. His agreeable manners, docile spirit, and a certain wild audacity, that did not diminish his profound deference for his benefactor, the king, won and retained the royal favor; genius did the rest. The little band of violinists, thanks to their skilful training under the direction of Lully, achieved wonders, far outstripping the original band in regard to both time and accuracy of execution. Being now in high favor at court, Lully was authorized to compose dance tunes for the ballets that Louis XIV. caused to be performed nearly every year, and in which his Majesty himself participated. Later he composed the entire musical portion of these entertainments, which were sometimes called "Mascarades." He was uniformly successful, and Fortune had evidently chosen him for her own. Enterprising and full of confidence in his talent and savoir-faire, Lully, having formed a friendship with Moliere, did not hesitate to appear as a comedian and to perform in the pieces that were represented in the great dramatist's theatre. In 1669, he took the rdle of Pourceaugnac in the piece of that name, and the Mufti in " ...