Rameau: Pièces de clavecin en concerts & suite en la

Featuring

Bruno Procopio
Emmanuelle Guigues
François Lazarevitch
Patrick Bismuth
Jean-Philippe Rameau

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Composition History

Jean-Philippe Rameau, the composer, self-published these pieces in Paris in 1741, at the age of 58, after he was already considered a master of French opera.

Recording & Production

The harpsichord used for this recording is a copy of a Flemish harpsichord by Rückers, a renowned family of harpsichord makers, adapted with a 'petit ravalement' (treble extension) in the French style.

Critical Reception

Unlike many contemporaries, Rameau's works remained in the repertoire of the Académie royale de musique until the end of the 18th century, and he was admired by later composers like Berlioz and Saint-Saëns.

Composer Biography

Rameau, born in Dijon in 1683, began his career as an organist, working in various cities before settling permanently in Paris in 1722.

Compositional Technique

Rameau's Pièces de clavecin en concerts are his only chamber music works, and he intended for the harpsichord to have a prominent, often soloistic, role.

Compositional Technique

Many movements in Rameau's concerts are named after people, places, or memories, such as 'La Livri' honoring a benefactor and 'La Laborde' for a child prodigy student.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Rameau's 'Pièces de clavecin en concerts' bridge the gap between Italian trio sonatas and Bach's polyphonic trios, and later keyboard sonatas with accompanying instruments.