Powers of Sound and Song in Early Modern Paris

In his book, "The Sound of Seventeenth-Century Paris," Nicholas Hammond explores the use of sound in 17th-century Paris, revealing the acoustic dimensions of class, politics, and sexuality. He discovers a four-line song from 1661 and investigates the lives of Jacques Chausson and Guillaume de Guitaut, revealing how noise in the ancien régime was central to questions of crime and punishment. The study explores the theoretical, social, cultural, and historical contexts of the early modern Parisian soundscape and appeals to scholars interested in sound studies, the history of sexuality, and the culture, literature, and history of early modern France.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 04 January 2021
Publisher: Pennsylvania State University Press

The long and remarkable reign of Louis XIV of France is often described in visually captivating terms. In this captivating book, Nicholas Hammond takes a unique approach by delving into the realm of sound, shedding light on the intricate acoustic dimensions of class, politics, and sexuality in seventeenth-century Paris.

The journey begins with the discovery in the French archives of a four-line song from 1661, which piqued Hammond's interest and led him to explore the lives of the two men mentioned therein: Jacques Chausson and Guillaume de Guitaut. Through meticulous research, Hammond traces the lives of these two individuals, one sentenced to death by burning and the other appointed to the Ordre du Saint-Esprit. What unfolds is a series of astonishing discoveries about each man and the ways in which their lives intersected, all within the vibrant context of the sounds and songs heard in the court of Louis XIV and on the streets and bridges of Paris.

Hammond's study reveals how members of the elite and lower classes in Paris crossed paths in unexpected ways, and how noise played a central role in questions of crime and punishment during the ancien régime. Street singing, for instance, was considered a crime in itself, yet street singers thrived, circulating information about crimes that others may have committed. At the same time, political and religious authorities wielded powerful sounds of sermons and public executions to provide moral commentaries, control crime, and inflict punishment.

This innovative study delves into the theoretical, social, cultural, and historical contexts of the early modern Parisian soundscape. It appeals to scholars interested in sound studies, the history of sexuality, as well as those who study the culture, literature, and history of early modern France. By employing a sonic lens, Hammond offers a fresh perspective on this remarkable era, illuminating the complex tapestry of sounds that shaped the lives and experiences of seventeenth-century Parisians.

Weight: 330g
Dimension: 159 x 228 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780271084725