Café-chantant
Encyclopedia
Café chantant is a type of musical establishment associated with the belle époque
in France. Although there is much overlap of definition with cabaret
, music hall
, vaudeville
, etc. the café chantant was originally an outdoor café where small groups of performers performed popular music for the public. The music was generally lighthearted, sometimes risqué, even bawdy but, as opposed to the cabaret tradition, not particularly political or confrontational.
who performed in this style from 1910 till 1958.
In Spain it was known as a café cantante and became the centre for professional flamenco
performances from the mid 19th century to the 1920s
Cafés chantants were known as kafeşantan in Turkish
, and many were opened in the Beyoğlu/Péra district of Istanbul in the early years of the twentieth century. They are described in great detail in the memoirs of such authors as Ahmed Rasim and Sermet Muhtar Alus. Earlier versions of the kafeşantan, known as kahvehane in Turkish
, appeared in Istanbul during the Ottoman
Era as early as 1554. Hundreds of them were opened continually, most of them with a social club status.
In the Russian Empire, the term was taken wholesale into the Russian language as "kafe-shantan" (кафе-шантан); Odessa was the city best known for its numerous kafe-shantany.
," a short story by James Joyce
(written c. 1904-1905; published 1914 in Dubliners
).
The name Cafe Chantant appears in "The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare," by G. K. Chesterton
(published 1908).
Belle Époque
The Belle Époque or La Belle Époque was a period in European social history that began during the late 19th century and lasted until World War I. Occurring during the era of the French Third Republic and the German Empire, it was a period characterised by optimism and new technological and medical...
in France. Although there is much overlap of definition with cabaret
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
, music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
, vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
, etc. the café chantant was originally an outdoor café where small groups of performers performed popular music for the public. The music was generally lighthearted, sometimes risqué, even bawdy but, as opposed to the cabaret tradition, not particularly political or confrontational.
National variations
The tradition of such premises as a venue for music has its origins in Paris and London of the 18th century, but gained its widest popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the growth of various other national “schools” of cafè chantant (besides French). Thus, one spoke of an Italian, German, or Austrian café chantant, for example. One of the most famous performers in this medium was violinist Georges BoulangerGeorges Boulanger (violinist)
Georges Boulanger was a Romani-Romanian violinist, conductor and composer.-Biography:Georges Boulanger was born in Tulcea, Romania from a Romani Romanian family with a very long tradition in music . His father's name was Vasile Pantazi. He was known as the typical Romanian Romani virtuoso...
who performed in this style from 1910 till 1958.
In Spain it was known as a café cantante and became the centre for professional flamenco
Flamenco
Flamenco is a genre of music and dance which has its foundation in Andalusian music and dance and in whose evolution Andalusian Gypsies played an important part....
performances from the mid 19th century to the 1920s
Cafés chantants were known as kafeşantan in Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
, and many were opened in the Beyoğlu/Péra district of Istanbul in the early years of the twentieth century. They are described in great detail in the memoirs of such authors as Ahmed Rasim and Sermet Muhtar Alus. Earlier versions of the kafeşantan, known as kahvehane in Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
, appeared in Istanbul during the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
Era as early as 1554. Hundreds of them were opened continually, most of them with a social club status.
In the Russian Empire, the term was taken wholesale into the Russian language as "kafe-shantan" (кафе-шантан); Odessa was the city best known for its numerous kafe-shantany.
Literary uses
The name Cafe Chantant appears in "ArabyAraby
Araby may refer to:* Araby , a historic home listed on the NRHP* "Araby" , from James Joyce's 1914 Dubliners* Araby , a country in the Warhammer Fantasy setting by Games Workshop* Araby, LA, USA...
," a short story by James Joyce
James Joyce
James Augustine Aloysius Joyce was an Irish novelist and poet, considered to be one of the most influential writers in the modernist avant-garde of the early 20th century...
(written c. 1904-1905; published 1914 in Dubliners
Dubliners
Dubliners is a collection of 15 short stories by James Joyce, first published in 1914. They were meant to be a naturalistic depiction of Irish middle class life in and around Dublin in the early years of the 20th century....
).
The name Cafe Chantant appears in "The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare," by G. K. Chesterton
G. K. Chesterton
Gilbert Keith Chesterton, KC*SG was an English writer. His prolific and diverse output included philosophy, ontology, poetry, plays, journalism, public lectures and debates, literary and art criticism, biography, Christian apologetics, and fiction, including fantasy and detective fiction....
(published 1908).