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Jean-Philippe Rameau
Birth Sep 25,
1683 in Dijon, France
Death Sep 12,
1764 in Paris, France

Jean-Philippe Rameau was born in 1683 to

Jean and Claudine. His father intended him to study
law, but he was so precocious a musician that they
were requested to remove him from the Jesuit Col-
lege where they had placed him, as he spent all his
time playing and studying music. His father, an or-
ganist at the Dijon cathedral, finally consented to
his pursuing a musical career, and sent him to Milan
to study. But the young Rameau didn't stay, and in-
stead joined a tour as first violinist through the
south of France. He was a brilliant harpsichordist,
and his early positions as a musician are all as an
organist and he was his father's successor at the
cathedral in Dijon. In 1722 he moved to Paris and
settled there. He held no official position in Paris but
was associated with the theaters. In 1726 he married
Marie Louise Mangot, and in 1732 finally took anoth-
er job as an organist in Paris.
Rameau's early compositions are all for the harpsichord. A fine harpsi-
chordist at an early age, he wrote masterful, virtuosic pieces. His 65 keyboard
works are compiled into four books. Some are lute-like and filled with expressive
arpeggiations, some are indebted to Couperin, and some look backward to older
styles. Some are filled with orchestral, sonorous textures never before seen in
harpsichord literature. La Poule is a powerful piece filled with drama and despair.
It is built around themes that are meant to imitate the sounds of a clucking chick-
en. Rameau takes these themes and combines and develops them into a com-
position that expresses profound tragedy.
Rameau began his theoretical writings with
Traite and Nouveau systeme de musique in 1726. He
continued his theoretical writings throughout his life,
corresponding with other theorists and writers. His
theories of harmonic generation, harmonic inversion,
and of fundamental bass influenced theorists for the
next 200 years. He developed theories of harmonic
progression, and classified the various cadences.
His ambition was to compose opera, however,
and he was an important historical figure in the his-
tory of the French lyric drama. He continued the work
Lully had begun, but with works such as Hippolyte
created operas that are filled with the power of human
emotion. He composed overtures that introduced the
story of the opera programmatically. He was able to
express violent contrasting emotions, and elegiac
moments and was a true dramatist. -- Rita Laurance
 Obra completa
ca. 1720 L'Absence, cantata (lost) Cantata
Acanthe et Céphise, ou La sympathie,
1751 French Baroque Opera
opera
L'Agaçante, for harpsichord, violin,
Trio for Keyboard and Two String
1741 and viol (Pièces de clavecin en con-
Instruments
certs)
L'Agaçante, version for harpsichord
1741 Chamber Music
only (Pieces de clavecin en concerts)
ca. 1722 Ah! loin de rire, canon Canon for Voices
Allemande for harpsichord in E minor
1724 Allemand for Keyboard
(Pièces de clavecin)
before Les Amants trahis, cantata for 2
Cantata
1721 soloists, viol & continuo
1754 Anacréon, acte de ballet Baroque Ballet
Aquilon et Orithie, cantata for bass
ca. 1715 Cantata
voice, violin & continuo
1762 Arueris, intermède en musique (lost) French Baroque Opera
ca. 1719 Avec du vin, endormons-nous, canon Canon for Voices
Le Berger fidèle, cantata for tenor
1728 Cantata
voice, 2 violins & continuo
before Les Boréades (Abaris), tragédie en
French Baroque Opera
1763 musique
La Boucon, for harpsichord, violin & Trio for Keyboard and Two String
1741
viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts) Instruments
Cantate pour le jour de la fête de
ca. 1740 Saint Louis, for soprano, treble Cantata
instrument & continuo
1737 Castor et Pollux, tragédie en musique French Baroque Opera
Cinq pièces pour clavecin seul Coll. of Character/Single-Move-
ca. 1741
extraites de Pièces en concert ment/Misc. Works for Keyb.
Concert 1, for harpsichord, violin (or
ca. 1741 flute) & viola da gamba (or second vi- Orchestral Music
olin) (Pièces de clavecin en concert)
Concert 2, for harpsichord, violin (or
ca. 1741 flute) & viola da gamba (or second vi- Orchestral Music
olin) (Pièces de clavecin en concerts)
Concert 3, for harpsichord, violin (or
ca. 1741 flute) & viola da gamba (or second vi- Orchestral Music
olin) (Pièces de clavecin en concerts)
Concert 4, for harpsichord, violin (or
ca. 1741 flute) & viola da gamba (or second vi- Orchestral Music
olin) (Pièces de clavecin en concerts)
Concert 5, for harpsichord, violin (or
ca. 1741 flute) & vila da gamba (or second viol- Orchestral Music
in) (Pièces de clavecin en concerts)
Concert 6, for harpsichord, violin (or
flute) and viola da gamba (od second Orchestral Music
vioin) (falsely attributed to Rameau)
La Cornemuse, ballet-pantomime Baroque Ballet
 La Coulicam, for harpsichord, violin & Trio for Keyboard and Two String
1741
viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts) Instruments
Les Courses de Tempé, musique pour
1734 French Baroque Opera
le théâtre de la foire (lost)
La Cupis, for harpsichord, violin & Trio for Keyboard and Two String
1741
viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts) Instruments
Les Cyclopes, for harpsichord (Pièces Character/Single-Movement/Mis-
1724
de clavecin) cellaneous Work for Keyboard
1753 Daphnis et Églé, pastorale héroïque French Baroque Opera
1739 Dardanus, tragédie en musique French Baroque Opera
Character/Single-Movement/Mis-
1747 La Dauphine, for harpsichord
cellaneous Work for Keyboard
Deus noster refugium, grand motet
1713
for soloists, chorus, 2 oboes, violin, Motet
-1715
viola & continuo
Two Solo Voices (with or without
ca. 1707 Duo paysan, for voice & keyboeard
Keyboard/Continuo)
L'Égyptienne, for harpsichord (Nou- Character/Single-Movement/Mis-
1727
velles suites) cellaneous Work for Keyboard
L'Endriague, comédie pour le théâtre
1723 French Baroque Opera
de la foire
L'Enharmonique, for harpsichord Character/Single-Movement/Mis-
1727
(Nouvelle suites) cellaneous Work for Keyboard
L'Enrôlement d'Arlequin, comédie por
1726 French Baroque Opera
le théâtre de la foire
L'Entretien des Muses, for Character/Single-Movement/Mis-
1724
harpsichord (Pièces de clavecin) cellaneous Work for Keyboard
ca. 1715 Exultet caelum laudibus, motet (lost) Baroque Motet
Fanfarinette, for harpsichord (Nou- Character/Single-Movement/Mis-
1727
velles suites) cellaneous Work for Keyboard
Les Fêtes d'Hébé ou Les Talents
1739 Ballet
lyriques, ballet héroïque
Les Fêtes de Polymnie, ballet
1745 Ballet
héroïque
1745 Les Fêtes de Ramire, acte de ballet Baroque Ballet
Les Fêtes de l'Hymen et de l'Amour
1747 ou Les Dieux d'Égypte, ballet Ballet
héroïque
La Follette, for harpsicord (Pièces de Character/Single-Movement/Mis-
1724
clavecin) cellaneous Work for Keyboard
La Forqueray, for harpsichord, violin
Trio for Keyboard and Two String
1741 & viol (Pièces de clavecin en con-
Instruments
certs)
Gavotte with 6 doubles, for harpsi-
1727 Gavotte for Keyboard
chord (Nouvelles suites)
Gigue en rondeau (Pièces de
1724 Chamber Music
clavecin)
La Guirlande ou Les Fleurs
1751 Baroque Ballet
Enchantées, acte de ballet
1733 Hippolyte et Aricie, tragédie lyrique French Baroque Opera
1715 L' Impatience, cantata for
Cantata
-1722 countertenor voice, viol & continuo
 In convertendo, grand motet for so-
before
loists, chorus, 2 flutes, 2 horns, violin, Baroque Motet
1720
viola & continuo
1735
Les Indes galantes, ballet French Baroque Opera
-1761
1735 Les Indes galantes, for harpsichord Transcription for Keyboard
1735 Les Indes galantes, opéra-ballet Baroque Ballet
L'indiffèrente, for harpsicord (Nou- Character/Single-Movement/Mis-
1727
velles suites) cellaneous Work for Keyboard
L'indiscrète, for harpschord, violin & Trio for Keyboard and Two String
1741
viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts) Instruments
Io, acte de balet (unfinished) Baroque Ballet
Les Jardninières et les ciseaux, bal-
Baroque Ballet
let-pantomime (lost)
Les Jardins de de l'Hymen ou La
1726 Baroque Ballet
Rose, ballet-pantomine
La Joyeuse, for harpsicord (Pièces de Trio for Keyboard and Two String
1724
clavecin avec une méthode) Instruments
Sacred Choral Music with key-
ca. 1722 Laboravi, for chorus & organ
board (or continuo)
La Laborde, for harpsichord, violin & Trio for Keyboard and Two String
1741
viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts) Instruments
Le Lardon, for harpsichord (Pièces de Character/Single-Movement/Mis-
1724
clavecin avec une méthode) cellaneous Work for Keyboard
Linus, tragédie en musique (partially
1752 French Baroque Opera
lost)
La Livri, for harpsichord, violin & viol Trio for Keyboard and Two String
1741
(Pièces de clavecin en concerts) Instruments
La Livri, version for harpsichord only
1741 Chamber Music
(Pieces de clavecin en concerts)
1753 Lysis et Délie, pastorale (lost) French Baroque Opera
La Marais, for harpsichord, violin & Trio for Keyboard and Two String
1741
viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts) Instruments
Marche des Magues Chamber Music
ca. 1720 Medée, cantata (lost) Cantata
Menuet I, for harpsichord, violin & viol
ca. 1741 Chamber Music
(Pièces de clavecin en concerts)
Menuet II, for harpsichord, violin &
ca. 1741 Chamber Music
viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts)
Menuet en rondeau, for harpsichord
1724 (Pièce de clavecin avec une méthode: Minuet for Keyboard
Table des agréments)
Menuets I and II, for harpsichord
1727 Minuet for Keyboard
(Nouvelle suites)
Musette en rondeau, for harpsichord
1724 (Pièces de clavecin avec une Musette for Keyboard
méthode)
Secular Choral Music with Or-
1749 Naïs, pastorale héroïque
chestra
La Naissance d'Osiris ou La Fête
1754 Baroque Ballet
Pamilie, acte de ballet
ca. 1750 Nélée et Myrthis ou Les Beaux jours Baroque Ballet
 de l'amour, ballet
Les Niais de Sologne, for harpsichord
Character/Single-Movement/Mis-
1724 (Pièces de clavecin avec une
cellaneous Work for Keyboard
méthode)
Nouvelles suites de pièces de
1727 Suite/Partita for Keyboard
clavecin, for harpsichord
Operas
Orphée, cantata, for soprano, violin,
ca. 1720 Cantata
viol & continuo
1760 Les Paladins, comédie lyrique Baroque Ballet
La Pantomime, for harpsichord, violin
Trio for Keyboard and Two String
1741 & viol (Pièces de clavecin en
Instruments
concerts)
1706
Pièces de Clavecin, for keyboard Music for Keyboard
-1727
Pièces de clavecin avec une méthode Coll. of Character/Single-Move-
1724
sur la mécanique des doigts ment/Misc. Works for Keyb.
Pièces de clavecin en concerts, for Coll. of Character/Single-Move-
1741
harpsihcord (arr.) ment/Misc. Works for Keyb.
Pièces de clavecin en concerts, for
Trio for Keyboard and Two String
1741 harpsichord, violin (or flute) & viola
Instruments
da gamba (or second violin)
Premier livre de pièces de clavecin, Coll. of Character/Single-Move-
1706
for harpsichord ment/Misc. Works for Keyb.
1745 Platée ou Junon jalouse, opera French Baroque Opera
La La Poplinière, for harpsichord, vi-
1741 olin & viol (Pièces de clavecin en con-
certs)
1729 - La Poule, for harpsicord (Nouvelles Character/Single-Movement/Mis-
1730 suites) cellaneous Work for Keyboard
La Princesse de Navarre, comédie-
1745 French Baroque Opera
ballet
La Procureur dupé sans le savoir,
1758 French Baroque Opera
opéra-comique (partially lost)
Pygmalion suite, for harpsichord Suite/Partita for Keyboard
1748 Pygmalion, acte de ballet Baroque Ballet
Quam dilecta, for soloists, chorus, 2
1713
flutes, 2 violins, viola & continuo (or Baroque Motet
-1715
organ)
La Rameau, for harpsichord, violin & Trio for Keyboard and Two String
1741
viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts) Instruments
Le Rappel des oiseaux, for
1724 harpsichord (Pièces de clavecin avec Music for Keyboard
une méthode)
La Robe de dissension ou le Faux
1726 prodige, comédie pour le théâtre da French Baroque Opera
foire
Rondino for piano in C major
Rossignols amoureaux, arietta for Solo Voice(s) and Small En-
soprano, flute, violin & harpsichord semble
1732 Samson, tragédie en musique (lost) French Baroque Opera
1727 Les Sauvages, for harpsicord (Nou- Character/Single-Movement/Mis-
 velles suites) cellaneous Work for Keyboard
Song(s) Miscellaneous Vocal Music
Les Soupirs, for harpischord (Pièces Character/Single-Movement/Mis-
1724
de clavecin avec une méthode) cellaneous Work for Keyboard
Suite in A major, for harpsichord Miscellaneous Music
ca. 1757 Les Surprises de l'amour, ballet Baroque Ballet
1753 Les Sybarites, acte de ballet Baroque Ballet
Tambourin, for harpsichord (Pièces Character/Single-Movement/Mis-
1724
de clavecin avec une méthode) cellaneous Work for Keyboard
Tambourins, for harpsichord, violin & Trio for Keyboard and Two String
1741
viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts) Instruments
1745 Le Temple de la Gloire, fête lyrique French Baroque Opera
Les Tendres Plaintes, for harpsicord
Character/Single-Movement/Mis-
1724 (Pièces de clavecin avec une
cellaneous Work for Keyboard
méthode)
Thétis, cantata for bass voice, violin &
ca. 1715 Cantata
continuo
La Timide, for harpsichord, violin & Trio for Keyboard and Two String
1741
viol (Pièce de clavecin en concerts) Instruments
La Timide, version for harpsichord
1741 Chamber Music
only (Pieces de clavecin en concerts)
Les Tourbillons (Pièces de clavecin Character/Single-Movement/Mis-
1724
avec une méthode) cellaneous Work for Keyboard
Les Tricotets, for harpsicord (Nou- Character/Single-Movement/Mis-
1727
velles suites) cellaneous Work for Keyboard
Les Triolets for harpsicord (Nouvelles Character/Single-Movement/Mis-
1727
suites) cellaneous Work for Keyboard
La Triomphante, for harpsicord (Nou- Character/Single-Movement/Mis-
1727
velles suites) cellaneous Work for Keyboard
Les Trois Mains, for harpsichord Character/Single-Movement/Mis-
1727
(Nouvelles suites) cellaneous Work for Keyboard
1751 Un bourbon ouvre sa carrière, ariette Art Song (General)
Le Vézinet, for harpsichord, violin & Trio for Keyboard and Two String
1741
viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts) Instruments
La Villageoise, for harpsichord
Character/Single-Movement/Mis-
1724 (Pièces de clavecin avec une
cellaneous Work for Keyboard
méthode)
Work(s) Miscellaneous Music
Work(s) Overview Miscellaneous Music
Work(s) for harpsichord Music for Keyboard
1748 Zaïs, ballet héroïque French Baroque Opera
Zéphire ou les Nymphes de Diane,
ca. 1750 Baroque Ballet
acte de ballet
1749 Zoroastre, tragédie en musique French Baroque Opera