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Jean-Philippe Rameau

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Jean-Philippe Rameau (25 September 1683 - 12 September 1764) was one of the most important French composers and music theorists of the Baroque era. He replaced Jean-Baptiste Lully as the dominant composer of French opera, and was attacked by those who preferred Lully’s style.

Rameau’s music is characterised by the exceptional technical knowledge of a composer who wanted above all to be renowned as a theorist of the art. Nevertheless it is not solely addressed to the intelligence and Rameau himself claimed “I try to conceal art with art”. The paradox of this music was that it was new, using techniques never known before, but it took place within the framework of old-fashioned forms; Rameau appeared revolutionary to the Lullystes, disturbed by the complex harmony of his music, and reactionary to the “philosophes” who only paid attention to its content and who either would not or could not listen to the sound it made. The incomprehension he received from his contemporaries stopped Rameau repeating such daring experiments as the second Trio des Parques in Hippolyte et Aricie, which he was forced to remove after a handful of performances because the singers were unable to interpret it correctly. So the greatest harmonist of his era went unrecognised at the very time that harmony - the “vertical” aspect of music - was taking precedence over counterpoint, which represented its “horizontal” aspect.

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baroque, classical, french, early music, composers
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SateinenSaa wrote:
last week

Die Pracht.

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phillip360 wrote:
16 days ago

♫ nourish, glue and inflate the soon to be estrus and electrified 'pataphysics group ♫

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puntigamerr wrote:
17 days ago

underrated

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phantompabulum wrote:
23 days ago

He looks like he has real hair

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elephant6 wrote:
29 days ago

I'd choose Rameau over Lully anyday.

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Epitymbidia wrote:
December 2008

You need to listen to his motets. The recording of "In convertendo", "Quam dilecta" and "Deus noster refugium" performed by "Les Arts Florissants" under the direction of William Christie is just splendid.

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bonaqua wrote:
August 2008

Has anyone a personal opinion on Plateé? Or Platée? (i don't know spelling)? It's good?

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Phil-between wrote:
August 2008

People, Give a try on amazing "Une Symphonie Imaginaire" album. Cheers.

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bonaqua wrote:
August 2008

Well people are still performing his stuff.

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Eclectic-G wrote:
July 2008

Last.fm tells me that Jean-Philippe Rameau is currently on tour! His fans will be excited to learn that: he hasn't toured since 1762!

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tjsan wrote:
July 2008

French baroque owns :)

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bonaqua wrote:
July 2008

I LOVE YOU RAMEAU!!!! All should check this title out: Les Sauvages: Menuet I & Ii from the ballet Les Indes Galantes. This track is also featured on the highly artistic film about Marie Antoinette (2006) in a dance scene. For all those who feel royal and sophisticated! This track is the definition of these terms!!!

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Gamester wrote:
March 2008

New group created to honor great baroque composer Arcangelo Corelli! Join Corelli Group! http://www.last.fm/group/Corelli

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buyable wrote:
March 2007

d

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