Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687) was an Italian-born French composer, dancer and court musician who became the dominant figure in French music under Louis XIV. Born Giovanni Battista Lulli in Florence, he rose to power at the French royal court.

Lully created the tragédie lyrique with librettist Philippe Quinault, wrote ballets, comédies-ballets with Molière, sacred music and instrumental pieces. His works helped define French opera and courtly musical style.

His music is rhythmically precise, ceremonious and theatrically powerful, with a strong feeling for dance, declamation and grandeur. He shaped the sound of absolutist France with astonishing authority.

Lully’s influence on French music lasted for generations. Few composers have so completely turned court ritual into musical grammar.