Music for my Grandma's Supper

During the golden age of Louis XIV’s reign, the Sun King indulged in elaborate suppers that were accompanied by hunting, fireworks, and majestic music.  One of his favorite composers,  Michel-Richard Delalande, actually wrote an entire collection of symphonies in honor of his majesty's dining preferences.  These pieces became known as “Symphonies pour les soupers du roi” (Symphonies for the King's Suppers).

 

In one of her letters dated to 1671, Madame de Sevigne describes a festive event prepared for the king by François Vatel, the tragic "Prince of Cooks."

"…the king arrived yesterday evening at Chantilly, he hunted a stag by moonlight; the lamps did wonders; the fire-works (cost 16,000 Franks) were a little eclipsed by the brightness of our serene friend, the moon; but the evening, the supper, and the entertainment went off admirably well...
“…Supper was served, but there was no roast meat at one or two of the tables, on account of Vatel's having been obliged to provide several dinners more than was expected.

This affected his spirits, and he was heard to say, several times: " I have lost my honor! I can not bear this disgrace… At four o'clock in the morning Vatel went round and found everybody asleep; he met one of the under-purveyors, who just come in with only two loads of fish. " What!" said he, " is this all ?" "Yes, sir," said the man, not knowing that Vatel had dispatched other people to all the sea-ports around.

“Vatel waited for some time; the other purveyors did not arrive; his head grew distracted; he thought there was no more fish to be had… (he) went to his apartment, and setting the hilt of his sword against the door, after two ineffectual attempts, succeeded in the third, in forcing his sword through his heart.”

My great grandma Annie will be 98 years old this year.  She has just recently moved to a rehab facility after falling and breaking her ankle. Since her move, my mom has issued a decree that we will visit her every week.  So on Sunday mornings, we get in the car and drive to visit her.  The facility is very convenient and looks more like a summer camp than an old age home.  It has a physical therapy room, recreation rooms, and even a giant saltwater aquarium (with an angelfish, a puffer fish, and many other exotic varieties). Almost every evening they even have a musical variety show called “Cabaret Night.”

Sometimes while visiting my great grandma we stay for cabaret night and watch the performers with her. One day I got an idea: why not play my violin for everyone?  I asked the entertainment coordinator, but she politely declined to say that I was too young.  Then I suggested that I could play for the residents while they eat.  The coordinator loved that idea, so I scheduled my first performance of the “Symphonies pour les soupers du grandmère”.  The repertoire consists of mostly Bach and Vivaldi.




And no, if you are curious, contrary to the King’s supper, nothing dramatic happened. There was plenty of roast beef to go around, and the fish arrived on time (and they tell me it was delicious).