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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RAMEAU: Pieces de Clavecin / Cinq Pieces / La…
Jean-Philippe Rameau
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RAMEAU: La naissance d'Osiris / Abaris ou les…
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RAMEAU: Pigmalion, Platee and Dardanus Ballet…
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RAMEAU: Harpsichord Suites / Nouvelles Suites
Jean-Philippe Rameau
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Top Tracks

1	Ouverture full track	304
2	L'entretien des Muses full track	279
3	La Laborde full track	227
4	Air de mussette full track	224
5	La Livri full track	200
6	La Poule	173
7	L'Indifferente / Indifference full track	146
8	I. Allemande full track	140
9	Act III Scene 1: Ritournelle et Air (Pollux) full track	137
10	Sarabande full track	111
11	La Dauphine full track	75
12	V. La Follette (Rondeau) full track	71
13	Air vif full track	67
14	Les Cyclopes full track	54
15	II. Les Niais de Sologne and two Doubles full track	51

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zucchin wrote:
Monday evening

goddamnamazing

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Hyper_marfa wrote:
June 2009

Племянник Рамо! теперь все ясно)))

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Jolly-Reaper wrote:
June 2009

His harpsichord music is so delicate and open. The picture's crazy awesome, too.

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oleeo wrote:
May 2009

Aww he looks so frazzled in this portrait. ha Excellent music, yes yes. :)

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zunari wrote:
May 2009

http://www.last.fm/group/NO+MORE+ON+TOUR+JOKES

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musinumfan wrote:
April 2009

http://www.last.fm/group/Classical+Radio

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JemLaMusic wrote:
March 2009

Rameau raconté aux enfants ! Album paru dans la collection "Le Petit Ménestrel". Plus d'info sur http://www.lepetitmenestrel.com

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__Lis__ wrote:
March 2009

Hello! If you are interested in Russian classical music, you are welcome to listen to my Russian classical radio (http://www.lastfm.ru/listen/user/ClassicaRussa/personal). In our Russian classical group (http://www.lastfm.ru/group/Russian+classical+music) you are also most welcome!

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phantompabulum wrote:
February 2009

I love his harpsichord work.

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SateinenSaa wrote:
January 2009

Die Pracht.

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phillip360 wrote:
December 2008

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

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puntigamerr wrote:
December 2008

underrated

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elephant6 wrote:
December 2008

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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Phil-between wrote:
August 2008

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

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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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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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