August 4 - Louis Lully (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for August 4th are here: Harry Lauder (2019), Louis Armstrong (2020), and William Schuman (2021)

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Louis Lully (4 August 1664– 1 April 1734) was a French musician and the eldest son of Jean-Baptiste Lully. 

[A note on pronunciation: the conventional pronunciation of Lully in England stresses the first syllable, while in America it is usual to stress the second syllable.  For the purposes of these metrical studies, please assume the English pronunciation.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Four Metrical Variations on a Failure

Nearly disinherited by his father following dissolute behavior and imprisonment, Louis did not have the brilliant career anticipated for him, not only because of his behavior but also due to his lack of talent. – Wikipedia

Trochaic Tragedy

Louis Lully was dejected

Since the life that was projected

Didn’t turn out as expected.

 

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Anapestic Anathema 

If you judged by the man’s DNA,

His achievements should blow us away!

But the Fates, in his case, had their say,

And he’s barely a memory today.

 

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Dactyl Damnation

Lully was dissolute, coarse, and ungallant,

But failed in his music through sheer lack of talent.

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Iambic Insult

Since Louis Lully lacked the skill

To reach the height of music’s hill,

Paternal anger grew until

He nearly cut him from the will.

 

 

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