François Giroust’s career is like a novel. Born in Paris in 1737, he began his musical career as a choirboy at Notre-Dame Cathedral. Highly talented, he was appointed Master of Music at Orléans Cathedral at the age of 19. The success of his grands motets at the Concert Spirituel in 1768 led to his return to Paris and the church of the Holy Innocents (église des Saints-Innocents). His fame earned him an appointment to the royal chapel in 1775, at the court of Louis XVI, where he was later promoted to Surintendant de la Musique du Roi. He simultaneously held the most prestigious musical posts at court, in the Chapelle and in the Chambre: when the Revolution broke out, his world collapsed along with the monarchy and the Church.

As Concierge at the Château de Versailles, he wrote music for all the revolutionary events at Versailles from 1793 until his death in 1799.

Most of his works have survived. While his revolutionary works are primarily of historical interest, his motets and masses represent the pinnacle of sacred music in France at the end of the Ancien Régime.

This is the first detailed biography of François Giroust, the last sous-maître of the Chapelle Royale at Versailles. It is accompanied by a catalogue of his works, inviting readers to explore his music.

The author, Jack Eby, obtained his doctorate in musicology from King’s College London. He is Professor of Music at Bishop’s University in Sherbrooke, Quebec. An associate researcher at the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles, he has worked for many years on the life and work of François Giroust, particularly at Versailles. He has published numerous articles on both his sacred music and his revolutionary career. He has also published critical editions of grands motets under the auspices of the CMBV, and is planning further volumes.