Okay, no tour of Europe, musical or otherwise, is complete without a stop in France. France was the home of the enlightenment, the great revolution in so many ways where modern Europe was born. Now, in the 19th century, France was certainly independent, but its struggles were domestic. It was the commoners against the aristocracy, the 99% versus the 1%. With its revolutions, and it took several, the French led the charge in Europe to finally end the medieval old regime. That notion of divine monarchy, that some were born, ordained by God to rule without limit, and everybody else, well, just deal with it.

Throughout the 19th century, the revolutionary slogan pushing for an end to this old regime was “liberté, égalité, fraternité.” This Romanticism promoted radical ideals of political freedom. Imagine government actually by, for, and of the people. Listening to French music from the 19th century I can almost hear the rabble in the streets. I find myself cheering liberty, equality, brotherhood, and of course, “Vive la France!”

Up next, by Camille Saint-Saëns, “Marche Militaire Française,” the French Military March.

[music: Marche Militaire Francaise by Saint-Saens]