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burningdarkfireTitle: une chanson pour toujours - bach
Series: APH
Pairing: France/Canada
Rating: PG
Length: 1000 words; chapter 1 (1/6)
Notes: written for Springtime in Montreal for![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
maplesandroses
Prompt: France playing piano for Canada; the circumstances are up to anon, I'd prefer it to be all innocent and fluffy, but if this can strike an idea for over-than-PG-13, I don't mind. AUs of any kind are also okay, just please, no genderbending.
i. bach
(1726)
“I thought we could go on an adventure today.”
Canada giggled happily as France scooped him up and settled him in his arms. “Where are we going?”
“I’m going to take you to my friend Gilbert’s house, and we’re going to meet someone very famous over there.” France bounced Canada up and down on his hip a few times before stepping out of the house.
Canada clung tightly to France as they made their way through crowded streets. He worried that he was too heavy, as France only looked like a teenager himself, but the older nation didn’t say anything and Canada soon fell asleep with his head on France’s shoulder.
-
“Ludwig!”
Canada woke up in time to watch sleepily as France banged on the door a few times. France started humming as he waited, and Canada closed his eyes again, listening to the vibrations coming from somewhere deep inside France.
“Well, this is a surprise.” A polite but cool voice greeted them as the door was swung open. Canada’s eyes flew open and he craned his neck around to look at this new Europeen nation. “Is that little Canada?”
“My little Mathieu,” France cooed, pressing a kiss to Canada’s forehead. Canada stared at Ludwig with mild interest. The teenager, who looked even younger than France, gave him a brisk nod, and Canada squeaked and hid his face in France’s hair. “Ludwig, you scared him!”
“I didn’t mean to!”
Canada looked up again when France laughed. “You’re always so stern looking, Ludwig! Is your brother around?”
Germany made an embarrassed grunt and shook his head, stepping aside to let them in. “He’s with the prince again.”
“He seems to have taken a liking to Frederick,” France commented. “He’s never around when I come to visit anymore.”
As France stepped over the threshold, Canada peeked out again at the scary nation. He was offered a tentative smile, which he shyly returned.
“Our guest should be here soon,” Germany told France, leading the way to a comfortable room with a harpsichord in the center and seats all around. “Can I get you and Canada something to drink?”
“Wine, if you have any.” France waved his hand airily as Germany shook his head. “Never mind then. Though while we’re here, I wouldn’t mind if you brought a little bit of beer for Mathieu to sample.”
“Isn’t he a bit young?” Germany asked hesitantly, shooting a glance at the small figure who was now watching him from France’s lap as they sat down.
France scoffed. “Please, no one is ever too young to enjoy the culture of other countries. As long as, of course, he remembers that French culture is the best and the richest.”
“That reminds me,” Ludwig said thoughtfully. “I wish to offer my congratulations on the birth of the new heir to the French throne.”
“Thank you,” France replied graciously, dipping his head. “It was a great cause for celebration.”
“I’m sure it was.” Their host paused at the exit of the room. “Your king is much too young for war, anyway. One must understand love before they can understand war.”
Germany disappeared down the hallway. Canada tilted his head back to look at France, who was frowning slightly.
“He’s been reading too much,” France snorted, shaking his head. “There’s no way Prussia taught him to say something like that.”
“Why did he say that?” Canada asked curiously, tugging on the ends of France’s hair. “What war?”
“Oh, you’re much too young to understand now,” France chuckled, patting Canada on the head fondly. “You’ll understand all these politics when you’re older.”
Canada pouted, but was content to sit and wait for Germany to come back. “Who’s coming soon?”
“It’s a surprise, and if I tell you, then it won’t be a surprise anymore!” France winked just as Germany entered the room again, with a stranger behind him.
France rose to his feet immediately, lifting Canada up and setting him on the ground. He walked over to the newcomer and shook his hand respectfully.
Germany stepped up. “Mr. Bach, you already know France. Let me introduce you to another one of my fellow nations, little Canada.” Germany moved to the side as France ushered Canada forward.
“Mathieu, come say hello to Mr. Bach! He’ll be playing for us today.” France picked Canada up again and a small hand was offered for the organist to shake.
Bach chuckled and shook Canada’s hand solemnly. “It’s good to see you, young sir. It’s a pleasure to see you too of course, France, it’s been far too long. I haven’t had the delight of your company since before I left Cöthen!”
“It was your wedding, I believe,” France said with a small smile. “You play beautifully even when drunk, if my memory can be trusted.”
“There was lots of good beer,” Bach laughed, as if it was an explanation. “I’ve heard that you have a cause for celebration that’s much more recent than mine, though. The birth of a son?”
“Yes, yes.” France smiled, but Canada didn’t miss the sharp glance he threw at Germany, and apparently, neither did the musician. Bach rubbed his hands together and strode towards the instrument in the center of the room, effectively staving off any further conversation.
“Well then, what would you like to hear today?”
“I’d love it if you would play one of those masterpieces from the Well-Tempered Clavier,” France requested. Canada watched with interest as Bach nodded and sat at the harpsichord, hands poised to play.
The notes slid easily through the air, weaving their way around each other as they conversed pleasantly. Canada listened to what they had to say, trying to learn this new language. His fingers drummed on his thigh in time to the melody and he wanted to run up to the harpsichord and try to make music for himself.
“That was fantastic!” France exclaimed, clapping as the organist finished with a flourish. Canada did the same, bringing his hands together enthusiastically. “That was the first one in C major?”
Bach grinned and stood, giving a small bow before walking over to them. “I’m flattered to see you’ve looked at my music, France.”
France scoffed. “Who hasn’t? You’re only the greatest counterpuntalist ever to write music!”
“There are others greater than I,” Bach said modestly. He gestured at the harpsichord. “Would you like to play something?”
“As if I could follow you,” France laughed, shaking his head. Canada squirmed slightly. France noticed and took his hand. “I think Mathieu wants to give the harpsichord a try though. He seems eager.”
“Of course.” Bach offered a hand to Canada. With a hesitant glance back at France, Canada took it and allowed himself to be led to the bench, where he was lifted up so he could see. Curiously, he banged on the keyboard, fingers splayed out across the keys.
“He’s a little musician already,” France chuckled.
-
A/N - PREPARE FOR MUSIC AND HISTORY GEEKINESS OF EPIC PROPORTIONS 8D I'll try to limit myself to things actually concerning the fic, orz
On the music side of things:
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was well known as a virtuostic organist during his time. He was born in Eisenach, Germany, and lived in Germany until he died. He wrote a massive amount of keyboard music, including two volumes of Das wohltemperirte Clavier (The Well-Tempered Clavier), published in 1722 and 1742.
Each volume of The Well-Tempered Clavier contains twenty-four preludes and fugues, one in each possible key. It has been called the pianist's Old Testament (the New Testament being Beethoven's thirty-two piano sonatas). It demonstrates the new system of equal temperament for tuning keyboard instruments.
His career is often seperated into three periods: Weimar, Cöthen, and Leipzig. Weimar saw the rise of his fame as an organ virtuoso, while the prince of Anhalt-Cöthen was partial to chamber music. Bach got married to his second wife, Anna Magdalena Wilcke (a young court singer), in 1721 while he was working at Cöthen (1717-23). In Leipzig, he was appointed cantor of St. Thomas's church and surpervised the music for the city's four main churches. He also went on frequent professional journeys to test and inaugurate new organs, the last of which was to the court of Frederick the Great at Potsdam, where Bach’s son Carl Philipp Emanuel served as accompanist to the flute-playing monarch.
He is considered the greatest contrapuntalist in the history of music as well as one of the greatest religious artists in history.
On the history side of things: (pretty much all copy-pasted from Wikipedia)
Frederick II (1712–1786) was a King in Prussia (r.1740–1772) and a King of Prussia (r.1772–1786) from the Hohenzollern dynasty. He became known as Frederick the Great (Friedrich der Große) and was nicknamed Der Alte Fritz ("Old Fritz").
Louis XV (1710-1774) was a King of France (r.1715-1774). After he succeeded to the throne at the age of five, his first cousin twice removed, Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, served as Regent of the kingdom until Louis's majority in 1723. Cardinal de Fleury was his chief minister from 1726 until his death in 1743, at which time the young king took over control of the French state.
In 1700, Philippe, Duke of Anjou, Louis XV's uncle, became King of Spain as Philip V, inheriting the crown through the claims of his grandmother, Marie Thérèse of Austria, the first wife of Louis XIV and a Spanish Infanta. Upon his accession, Louis XIV had perfunctorily confirmed in the Parlement of Paris Philip V's rights to the French throne, which could not be altered or removed according to the constitutional laws of the Ancien Régime of France. As a result, European fears of a Franco-Spanish union increased and led to the War of the Spanish Succession. The war did not proceed smoothly for France and the chances of peace on terms allowing Philip V to govern Spain while at the same time retaining his right to the French throne were slight.
At the time when Louis XV became king, his death would have left Louis XIV with two possible successors: Philip V, the king of Spain, or Philippe d'Orléans, the nephew of Louis XIV and the first cousin of the late Grand Dauphin. Philip V, however, had renounced all rights to the French successtion as a result of the Treaty of Utrecht of 1713. He nevertheless claimed that no legitimate descendant of Hugh Capet could be deprived of his rights to the throne of France according to the French Law of Succession. Because most European powers at the time saw the direct union of France and Spain under one ruler as a significant threat, the prospect of such a union threatened to unleash another European war in addition to a civil war in France.
In September 1729, at the end of her third pregnancy, the queen finally gave birth to a male child, heir to the throne, the dauphin Louis (1729–1765). The birth of a long awaited heir, which ensured the survival of the dynasty for the first time since 1712, was welcomed with tremendous joy and celebration in all spheres of French society. The young king was extremely popular at the time. The birth of a male heir also dispelled the risks of a succession crisis and the likely war with Spain that would have resulted.
And there you have it. My decision to post this in seperate chapters now, instead of waiting until I'm all finished, comes mainly from the fact that the sheer length of the history notes would be overwhelming if put together ><;and I apparently need build-up for such a simple prompt lolwhat
Series: APH
Pairing: France/Canada
Rating: PG
Length: 1000 words; chapter 1 (1/6)
Notes: written for Springtime in Montreal for
maplesandroses Prompt: France playing piano for Canada; the circumstances are up to anon, I'd prefer it to be all innocent and fluffy, but if this can strike an idea for over-than-PG-13, I don't mind. AUs of any kind are also okay, just please, no genderbending.
i. bach
(1726)
“I thought we could go on an adventure today.”
Canada giggled happily as France scooped him up and settled him in his arms. “Where are we going?”
“I’m going to take you to my friend Gilbert’s house, and we’re going to meet someone very famous over there.” France bounced Canada up and down on his hip a few times before stepping out of the house.
Canada clung tightly to France as they made their way through crowded streets. He worried that he was too heavy, as France only looked like a teenager himself, but the older nation didn’t say anything and Canada soon fell asleep with his head on France’s shoulder.
-
“Ludwig!”
Canada woke up in time to watch sleepily as France banged on the door a few times. France started humming as he waited, and Canada closed his eyes again, listening to the vibrations coming from somewhere deep inside France.
“Well, this is a surprise.” A polite but cool voice greeted them as the door was swung open. Canada’s eyes flew open and he craned his neck around to look at this new Europeen nation. “Is that little Canada?”
“My little Mathieu,” France cooed, pressing a kiss to Canada’s forehead. Canada stared at Ludwig with mild interest. The teenager, who looked even younger than France, gave him a brisk nod, and Canada squeaked and hid his face in France’s hair. “Ludwig, you scared him!”
“I didn’t mean to!”
Canada looked up again when France laughed. “You’re always so stern looking, Ludwig! Is your brother around?”
Germany made an embarrassed grunt and shook his head, stepping aside to let them in. “He’s with the prince again.”
“He seems to have taken a liking to Frederick,” France commented. “He’s never around when I come to visit anymore.”
As France stepped over the threshold, Canada peeked out again at the scary nation. He was offered a tentative smile, which he shyly returned.
“Our guest should be here soon,” Germany told France, leading the way to a comfortable room with a harpsichord in the center and seats all around. “Can I get you and Canada something to drink?”
“Wine, if you have any.” France waved his hand airily as Germany shook his head. “Never mind then. Though while we’re here, I wouldn’t mind if you brought a little bit of beer for Mathieu to sample.”
“Isn’t he a bit young?” Germany asked hesitantly, shooting a glance at the small figure who was now watching him from France’s lap as they sat down.
France scoffed. “Please, no one is ever too young to enjoy the culture of other countries. As long as, of course, he remembers that French culture is the best and the richest.”
“That reminds me,” Ludwig said thoughtfully. “I wish to offer my congratulations on the birth of the new heir to the French throne.”
“Thank you,” France replied graciously, dipping his head. “It was a great cause for celebration.”
“I’m sure it was.” Their host paused at the exit of the room. “Your king is much too young for war, anyway. One must understand love before they can understand war.”
Germany disappeared down the hallway. Canada tilted his head back to look at France, who was frowning slightly.
“He’s been reading too much,” France snorted, shaking his head. “There’s no way Prussia taught him to say something like that.”
“Why did he say that?” Canada asked curiously, tugging on the ends of France’s hair. “What war?”
“Oh, you’re much too young to understand now,” France chuckled, patting Canada on the head fondly. “You’ll understand all these politics when you’re older.”
Canada pouted, but was content to sit and wait for Germany to come back. “Who’s coming soon?”
“It’s a surprise, and if I tell you, then it won’t be a surprise anymore!” France winked just as Germany entered the room again, with a stranger behind him.
France rose to his feet immediately, lifting Canada up and setting him on the ground. He walked over to the newcomer and shook his hand respectfully.
Germany stepped up. “Mr. Bach, you already know France. Let me introduce you to another one of my fellow nations, little Canada.” Germany moved to the side as France ushered Canada forward.
“Mathieu, come say hello to Mr. Bach! He’ll be playing for us today.” France picked Canada up again and a small hand was offered for the organist to shake.
Bach chuckled and shook Canada’s hand solemnly. “It’s good to see you, young sir. It’s a pleasure to see you too of course, France, it’s been far too long. I haven’t had the delight of your company since before I left Cöthen!”
“It was your wedding, I believe,” France said with a small smile. “You play beautifully even when drunk, if my memory can be trusted.”
“There was lots of good beer,” Bach laughed, as if it was an explanation. “I’ve heard that you have a cause for celebration that’s much more recent than mine, though. The birth of a son?”
“Yes, yes.” France smiled, but Canada didn’t miss the sharp glance he threw at Germany, and apparently, neither did the musician. Bach rubbed his hands together and strode towards the instrument in the center of the room, effectively staving off any further conversation.
“Well then, what would you like to hear today?”
“I’d love it if you would play one of those masterpieces from the Well-Tempered Clavier,” France requested. Canada watched with interest as Bach nodded and sat at the harpsichord, hands poised to play.
The notes slid easily through the air, weaving their way around each other as they conversed pleasantly. Canada listened to what they had to say, trying to learn this new language. His fingers drummed on his thigh in time to the melody and he wanted to run up to the harpsichord and try to make music for himself.
“That was fantastic!” France exclaimed, clapping as the organist finished with a flourish. Canada did the same, bringing his hands together enthusiastically. “That was the first one in C major?”
Bach grinned and stood, giving a small bow before walking over to them. “I’m flattered to see you’ve looked at my music, France.”
France scoffed. “Who hasn’t? You’re only the greatest counterpuntalist ever to write music!”
“There are others greater than I,” Bach said modestly. He gestured at the harpsichord. “Would you like to play something?”
“As if I could follow you,” France laughed, shaking his head. Canada squirmed slightly. France noticed and took his hand. “I think Mathieu wants to give the harpsichord a try though. He seems eager.”
“Of course.” Bach offered a hand to Canada. With a hesitant glance back at France, Canada took it and allowed himself to be led to the bench, where he was lifted up so he could see. Curiously, he banged on the keyboard, fingers splayed out across the keys.
“He’s a little musician already,” France chuckled.
-
A/N - PREPARE FOR MUSIC AND HISTORY GEEKINESS OF EPIC PROPORTIONS 8D I'll try to limit myself to things actually concerning the fic, orz
On the music side of things:
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was well known as a virtuostic organist during his time. He was born in Eisenach, Germany, and lived in Germany until he died. He wrote a massive amount of keyboard music, including two volumes of Das wohltemperirte Clavier (The Well-Tempered Clavier), published in 1722 and 1742.
Each volume of The Well-Tempered Clavier contains twenty-four preludes and fugues, one in each possible key. It has been called the pianist's Old Testament (the New Testament being Beethoven's thirty-two piano sonatas). It demonstrates the new system of equal temperament for tuning keyboard instruments.
His career is often seperated into three periods: Weimar, Cöthen, and Leipzig. Weimar saw the rise of his fame as an organ virtuoso, while the prince of Anhalt-Cöthen was partial to chamber music. Bach got married to his second wife, Anna Magdalena Wilcke (a young court singer), in 1721 while he was working at Cöthen (1717-23). In Leipzig, he was appointed cantor of St. Thomas's church and surpervised the music for the city's four main churches. He also went on frequent professional journeys to test and inaugurate new organs, the last of which was to the court of Frederick the Great at Potsdam, where Bach’s son Carl Philipp Emanuel served as accompanist to the flute-playing monarch.
He is considered the greatest contrapuntalist in the history of music as well as one of the greatest religious artists in history.
On the history side of things: (pretty much all copy-pasted from Wikipedia)
Frederick II (1712–1786) was a King in Prussia (r.1740–1772) and a King of Prussia (r.1772–1786) from the Hohenzollern dynasty. He became known as Frederick the Great (Friedrich der Große) and was nicknamed Der Alte Fritz ("Old Fritz").
Louis XV (1710-1774) was a King of France (r.1715-1774). After he succeeded to the throne at the age of five, his first cousin twice removed, Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, served as Regent of the kingdom until Louis's majority in 1723. Cardinal de Fleury was his chief minister from 1726 until his death in 1743, at which time the young king took over control of the French state.
In 1700, Philippe, Duke of Anjou, Louis XV's uncle, became King of Spain as Philip V, inheriting the crown through the claims of his grandmother, Marie Thérèse of Austria, the first wife of Louis XIV and a Spanish Infanta. Upon his accession, Louis XIV had perfunctorily confirmed in the Parlement of Paris Philip V's rights to the French throne, which could not be altered or removed according to the constitutional laws of the Ancien Régime of France. As a result, European fears of a Franco-Spanish union increased and led to the War of the Spanish Succession. The war did not proceed smoothly for France and the chances of peace on terms allowing Philip V to govern Spain while at the same time retaining his right to the French throne were slight.
At the time when Louis XV became king, his death would have left Louis XIV with two possible successors: Philip V, the king of Spain, or Philippe d'Orléans, the nephew of Louis XIV and the first cousin of the late Grand Dauphin. Philip V, however, had renounced all rights to the French successtion as a result of the Treaty of Utrecht of 1713. He nevertheless claimed that no legitimate descendant of Hugh Capet could be deprived of his rights to the throne of France according to the French Law of Succession. Because most European powers at the time saw the direct union of France and Spain under one ruler as a significant threat, the prospect of such a union threatened to unleash another European war in addition to a civil war in France.
In September 1729, at the end of her third pregnancy, the queen finally gave birth to a male child, heir to the throne, the dauphin Louis (1729–1765). The birth of a long awaited heir, which ensured the survival of the dynasty for the first time since 1712, was welcomed with tremendous joy and celebration in all spheres of French society. The young king was extremely popular at the time. The birth of a male heir also dispelled the risks of a succession crisis and the likely war with Spain that would have resulted.
And there you have it. My decision to post this in seperate chapters now, instead of waiting until I'm all finished, comes mainly from the fact that the sheer length of the history notes would be overwhelming if put together ><;
