This site introduces unknown Emanuel Bach (C. P. E. Bach).
I asked ChatGPT4o: "It is said that Charpentier had little connection with the royal court. Was this because he disliked associating with Lully, who controlled the courtʼs music?"
The reason why Marc-Antoine Charpentier had little involvement with the French royal court is largely attributed to his relationship with Lully.
Lully held immense influence in the court of Louis XIV, dominating the entire French music scene. He controlled almost all aspects of royal music, and any performance at court or opera production required his permission. Lully was highly power-driven and did not tolerate other composers encroaching on his domain. It is highly likely that Charpentier sought to avoid being under Lullyʼs strict control.
Charpentier had a musical style that differed significantly from Lullyʼs. Notably, he incorporated many Italian elements into his compositions, contrasting sharply with the purely French style that Lully promoted at the royal court. Lully, being protective of French musical traditions and wary of Italian influences, was critical of composers like Charpentier who embraced Italian musical elements.
Furthermore, Charpentier deliberately avoided challenging Lullyʼs monopolistic power by focusing his activities mainly on church music and securing the patronage of private aristocrats. He developed a close relationship with the Saint-Chapelle and the Jesuits, dedicating himself to sacred music. Since Lully prioritized opera and court stage music over religious music, Charpentier could avoid direct conflict by working in this different domain.
Therefore, Charpentierʼs limited involvement with the royal court was a strategic decision to avoid conflict with Lullyʼs influence while preserving his own musical independence.