The Changing Face of Music in Conjunction with the French Revolution

1793 Jacques-Lois David
The Death of Marat  

Before focusing on influences of the revolution on opera, I want to mention how revolution change the usage of music, it will help us to understand the atmospher of the period and it will also help me to make a simple introduction to my subject.

Before the French Revolution, opera was seen as a plaything or frivolous entertainment of aristocracy.French leaders started to use opera as a popular enlightment or public-spirited tool.They organized open-air operas to stimulate people to take part in it.Firstly, this organizations were for the celebration of important events of the revolution.Later, festivals honourned pure or theoretical merits like equality, liberty.This change in usage of music forced composers to enlarge the orchestra and they added wind and percussion sections.They created chorus section for only male and millitary bands became  widely popular because of patriotic emotions.

The reflections of French Revolution influenced librettos before music.As a result of this the plots became more ideological.Librettos began to process the rescue of innocence from villainy, unjust destiny or disasters.There were always heroic characters who ensure the happy ends.Librettos emphasized the toil of hero, instead of chance or God and they underlined the praise of human-bravery which was the major message of French Revolution.

reference
Wınton Dean,(n.d.)Essays on Opera/Opera Under The French Revolution