Steve: Hi I am coming from music's best with Robert Bochsa. I would like to first start off by saying this is such an honor to interview you.
Robert: Bonjour! This is a pleasure to be here.
Steve: Let's get started with the interview. So Robert, tell me about your childhood.
Robert: I lived Montmédy, France during the late 1700's early 1800's. It is a citadel that Charles V began building in 1545. Montmédy is a citadel that sits up on a hill. Gave me a good view to look at as my father gave me lessons.
I lived during what is known as the Industrailization period. So in France things were constantly changing and improving. Technology was getting better but one of my favorites was how the music changed. It started to move towards romanticism. Really anything that has to deal with music I like... As long as it makes it sound better.
Steve: You mentioned lessons from your dad. Is that how you got started in playing the harp?
Robert: Yes, but I didn't just play harp. My dad was a flautist and clarinetist so he knew about the music world. With the help of his lessons when I was just eight years of age, I performed my own piano and flute compositions in public . I also played in the orchestra of the opera at Lyons. I switched between the harp, cello, and the viola.
I'm glad my father taught me how about music at a young age because it gave me time to improve as I got older. The younger you start, in my opinion the more committed you become to your art. As you get older you find more tricks about your talent. The tricks can add to you making the music your own and not just you playing notes. Make it, write it, love it. The music of course(Australian dictionary of biography,1969)!
Steve: You are really funny Robert. Let's move on. What role did the mentors in your life play in helping you develop interest and talents you have in the Arts?
Robert: Well that's a very good question. I guess they played a pretty large part. The emperor sent me to the Paris Conservatoire where I began focusing just on harp. Sebastian Erard also played a part in my life. He improved the way my harp played which made it popular again.
He also "restored" me. He done this by publishing a method (Australian dictionary of biography, 1969).Soon everyone wanted me to play harp for them but I played for the best which is another story another time. But another mentor was my dad because well, he did teach me the basics of it all. He like put me out into the world and I just navigated through it.
Steve: Since you navigated through the world, what was the world of art like in the harp field when you entered it?
Robert: Well since everything was changing due to modernization, the audience of music had become larger so more people came to hear music. Also music was changing over. Composers and musicians began writing what they felt. This was known as romanticism. Which just means they wrote how they felt and more romantic.
However I didn't do that. I chose to compose what I liked. If it fell under that category that's great but I mainly did my own thing. That's why many people liked what I composed and wanted me to be their harpist. But let me not get ahead of myself. Move along Steve.
Steve: How did the major cultural, economic, and political situations of the time impact your arts?
Robert: Well the economic situation affected myself to make decisions that weren't smart. The decisions had forced me to leave France. The political situations helped me. I became an appointed harpist for Louis XVIII(Australian dictionary of biography,1969). I don't really think the culture affected my arts other then everything changing to romantic stuff. People just started writing how they felt rather than what they were told to write.
Steve, this question doesn't really apply to me. I wasn't affected by the modernization. In fact I was helped by it. Made my art popular. I think we should move on.
Steve: Okay then. What were your major accomplishments and the methods you used in your art?
Robert: My first accomplishment happened at the age of 12. I composed a symphony and several ballets. It was quite an experience. You know how you get nervous. All eyes on you and you're trying not To mess up. But I didn't because I had confidence. That's the key to everything's, knowing you can do something. My second accomplishment was at the age of 16. I composed the opera, Trajan, in honor of Napolean's visit to Lyons (Australian dictionary of biography,1969).
I also inaugurated the Lenten Oratorios in London. In 1822, I became a professor of harp at the Royal Academy of Music. I conducted the King's Theatre from 1826-1823. The methods I used were to just get out there and play. The public loved the arts so why not play for them. That's how you get discovered. (Australian dictionary of biography ,1969).
Steve: Wow! That's amazing Robert. Now what were the opportunities that got you to all of those accomplishments?
Robert: The only one I can think of is me giving lessons to various people. I have lessons to Empress Josephine and then Marie Louise. I didn't know my lessons were important until Parisian ladies wanted to play harp. I just have that effect on the ladies. I also traveled a lot and knew a lot of people.
Since my family knew nobility, I was appointed harpist to Louis XVIII and the duc de Berri. I gave benefit concerts when I worked at the King's Theatre so I could get my music out into the world. So once again networking is basically all of my opportunities. You know Steve, I have had it pretty easy as a musician. Things weren't exactly handed down but they might as well have been.
Steve: Speaking of this going easy, what were the hardships or roadblocks you had to overcome?
Robert: I'm so glad you asked me that. I know this may sound weird but I have been waiting for this question. So the Biggest roadblock was I was involved in Forgeries in 1817. So I left And went to England. I thought things were going to Passover. Steve, I sure was wrong. I was convicted and sentenced to 12 years in jail and a 4000 franc fine.
So you remember how i said I was a professor? Well I had to quit the job because people don't like my attitude or personality. It was my job to teach and that's what I'd do. Now wether the students and I had different opinions, it shouldn't have mattered. But that's all in the past. I've overcome them
Steve: Well Robert you have a very interesting life. Tell me what stories best tell how you became successful in the arts.
Robert: I don't have any stories that tell how I've become successful. I just had a reputation and I can play the harp. There's nothing to explain how. It just happened in the blink of an eye. I don't mean to sound full of myself though.
I really wish I could tell you something about my personal life. I guess the story of when I came back to London. I was treated like a celebrity! Everybody wanted a harp lesson. Including the Duchess of Wellington and the daughters of the Duke of Clarence (Australian dictionary of biography,1969).
Steve: Well Robert I have one final question before we go our separate ways. How did your work impact the world of art?
Robert: I think I'm great and all, but my work did really impact the world of art. I was just a man who played the harp. People may have looked up to me but I wasn't like Beethoven. I think my work impacted the small people around me and who I taught. I think they look up to me. Because I am pretty successful.
So Steve at the end of it all I never really got out there enough to change the way people heard music. I think I got out there enough to reach my goal. And I made it now that I think about it. I want to say thank you Steve. You have taught me to think upon my career and not to just go go go.
Steve: Anytime Robert. I want to say thank you for allowing me to question a fine harpist like your self.
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