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● The creation of La Marseillaise
One of the most timeless hymns in history was not born in Marseille. Contrary to what is often believed, let alone in 1789. If it is indeed the work of a Frenchman (it is already that), it is in Alsace that it is born during the war against Austria. While the king sees the power to elude him, Louis XVI hopes that a defeat French military will restore his authority and he declared war on the King of Bohemia and Hungary on April 20, 1792. He did not know yet that it it would be fatal, or it would engender the rallying song of the French for future generations. After two months of disorganized fighting, the Baron de Dietrich and mayor of Strasbourg realizes that the French troops lack a unifying song and turns to his friend, the officer Rouget de Lisle, musician lost time. The latter is involved in the night of June 25, 1792, and the next day, "The Song of war for the army of the Rhine" is born.
A song banned by Napoleon under the Empire
At the end of July, the troops are forced to retreat before Prussia, which came to Austria's aid. French volunteers are then called from all over France to strengthen the ranks. In August, the Federals of Marseilles landed in Paris, taking with them this now revolutionary song, renamed some time later "La Marseillaise". Its genesis corresponds to the – no less important – of the Republic, since August 10 they invade the Tuileries and have the king and his family locked up, ending almost a millennium of absolute monarchy.
The success of La Marseillaise is such that it is recognized July 14, 1795 as one of the "tunes and civic songs that contributed to the success of the Revolution", before being banned by Napoleon for nearly thirty years! The second revolution of 1830 put it back on the scene, before it was decreed national anthem under the Third Republic (1879). His passage to posterity was assured. And yet, there was still no official version of La Marseillaise, which regularly caused pretty messy musical performance.
● A handwriting
It is not clear who (or what) Rouget de Lisle drew his inspiration. Some agree that the first words of the song ("Aux armes citoyens, Form your battalions, Marchons!") Evoke the slogan of a poster advertising to engage, that the officer would cross when leaving the house of Baron Dietrich. Others, whether inspired by the writings of Voltaire or Boileau's verses ("And their bodies rotten in our plains / have only fatten our furrows" can we read in an ode of 1656). Third hypothesis, defended by the Swiss writer Claude Mossé: the music would be from the first movement of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 25, composed eight years earlier, which, by the way, would make La Marseillaise a hymn. Austrian. However, you are challenged to recognize it …
The song had no earlier made the tour of France that it was reworked, modified, lengthened a seventh verse (now known as "the couplet des enfants "), probably co-written by playwright Marie-Joseph Chénier (brother of the famous poet) and jurist Jean-Baptiste Dubois.
Already, La Marseillaise never ceased to be repeated and rewritten, for purposes as eclectic as to fight against clericalism in the legislative elections of 1881 ("At the citizens' urns, Against the clerical, Let's vote, let's vote, and let our voices disperse the crows "), to commemorate the Russian victory over the Napoleonic troops in 1812 (" The Solemn Opening "for Tchaikovsky's orchestra, 1882), or more simply to release a single in the making (the very famous" All You Need Is Love "of Beatles).
Be that as it may, Rouget de Lisle ended his life ruined, imprisoned for debt and forgotten by all. France did justice to his hero only late in 1915, when his ashes were transferred to the Invalides during a grandiose procession, hoping to strengthen the patriotic impetus necessary for victory. It was deposited in the vault of the governors, "where it will remain until the law that will transfer it to the Pantheon" written Le Figaro of July 15, 1915. Rouget de Lisle still rests there, all the presidents who tried the transfer failed.
● A very controversial national anthem
Today, La Marseillaise does not finish to unleash the most contradictory passions. Between those who want to impose their learning to all, those who whistle to mean their aversion to France and those who want to ban it, we do not know what to think. Made obligatory in primary school by Charles de Gaulle, she was immunized against whistling in 2003, a crime punishable by 6 months imprisonment and 7500 euros fine. The fans just have to stand.
It is true that his words are somewhat dated, that they correspond to the time when ferocious soldiers came to loot and kill in our country. If this is not the case, this song remains a hymn to freedom, a resistance to oppression and slavery, which we still find unfortunately too much under other skies than ours.
Long criticized without ever being changed, this patriotic refrain is firmly rooted in French culture and history. You do not change a heritage in a snap, although many artists have tried. From Serge Gainsbourg to Léo Ferré, via George Brassens, everyone went from his verse. And Pierre Desproges added: "If the ministries concerned had done me the honor to seek my opinion, as for the words of the Marseillaise, I had long regretted that the soldiers roar and strongly advocated that the objectors coo , that the shepherdesses hummed there and that the troubadours compliment, "he amused himself in 1986. But La Marseillaise is good, it has gone through the ages, it will take a while. At least until tomorrow.
The Figaro.fr
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