Louis Antoine Jullien

One of our favorite waltzes is the Prima Donna Waltz, written by Jullien, published in the early 1850s and recorded by Spare Parts on their Civil War Ballroom CD.

It turns out that Louis Antoine Jullien was quite a character. He was born in 1812 in Sisteron, France, His father was an orchestra conductor and all the members of the orchestra were invited to be his godfathers. He was baptised with the name:

Louis George Maurice Adolphe Roche Albert Abel Antonio Alexandre Noë Jean Lucien Daniel Eugène Joseph-le-brun Joseph-Barême Thomas Thomas Thomas-Thomas Pierre Arbon Pierre-Maurel Barthélemi Artus Alphonse Bertrand Dieudonné Emanuel Josué Vincent Luc Michel Jules-de-la-plane Jules-Bazin Julio César Jullien

After this rather extravagant beginning, he went on to an equally extravagant life as an orchestra conductor, composer and music publisher. He played in Paris, London and New York. He spent a lot of time in Boston and he left an enduring mark on our music and dance.