Jean Baptiste Lully was a Baroque French composer who changed the format of the orchestra when he introduced several instruments which were not used before. Until his time (he died in 1687) only violins were used, and Lully introduced flutes, oboes, bassoons, trumpets and timpani. His death was unfortunate and it happened at the podium from where he directed his orchestras. However, instead of the baton which is used today by all conductors, Lully used a long stick to beat time on the floor. One day he missed the floor and speared his own foot instead. Gangrene set in and he died 2 months later after refusing to have his foot amputated. Lully was the personal composer of King Louis XIV, and dominated the musical scene in France for two decades, His music is very majestic and regal with flourishes of trumpets and timpani.
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