What was it like to be a court composer in 17th-century Europe? Certainly, it was a cushy, prestigious gig compared to most jobs of that time. Music was one of the main ways that rich nobles advertised their luxurious living, and those born with the right talents could rise to rub shoulders with the great figures of the age.
But the position carried burdens as well. Chief among these was the fact that composers were essentially glorified servants. Without any personal freedom, they traveled with their noble patrons wherever they went, providing constant melodious accompaniment to a fabulous lifestyle that they could observe, but never participate in. If they left without permission, they would be hunted down. In times of financial hardship, they would not even be paid.
