Like other rulers of nations, Loius XIV wanted a more united kip-

[oooooooooooooooto rule over, that had as little threat of insurrection as possible. King
Louis often used music and dance to his advantage. We see this from the fact that he
required the members of his court to be skilled in both music and dancing. By keeping
the nobility engaged in aesthetical endeavors such as dance and music, he also knew that
this would keep at least his upper class from forming rebellious or non-loyal parties that
detracted from his overall power as king.
Jean Baptiste Lully was in charge of all aspects of music while alive during the
reign of Louis XIV. All of the composers within France were responsible for the strong
heritage which they carried down from the many musical forefathers, carrying the
tradition onward of Leonin and Perotin was no small feat. The composer’s works had to
be inspected for content in regards to the French state. Lully himself was afforded more
freedom in his own compositions due to his closeness to the king.
During the reign of Louis the 14th, the violin consort became most eminent. The
king had in his personal orchestra exactly 24 violins. This in itself is proof as to the
importance of music in French and this king’s sphere of influence. Upon the death of
Lully, who died after accidentally stabbing his foot with his conductors stick which
turned gangrenous. It was Michel Laland who succeeded Lully, and who also served the
king being accountable for the music of the court.
The problem was to make French operas. To give French pride in their language.
To use the recitative like the Italians, and make it their own. The recitatif. What the
French did was to change meters occasionally to emphasize the text so that important
syllables of important words came on te down beats correctly, thus the music changed
meter accordingly 4/4 to ¾. Since Louis XIV himself was also a part of plays, dramas,
skits etc, we can see how important he viewed music as pertaining to his kingdom and
nobility.