By 1724, French artistic taste had shifted from the solemnity of the Grand Siècle to more relaxed, sensual, and intimate expressions, a change Rameau captured in his music.
Interpretation
Bertrand Cuiller, the performer, used a harpsichord for this recording that was built in 1977 as a copy of a late 17th-century instrument and later modified to suit 18th-century tastes.
Performer Biography
Bertrand Cuiller began playing the harpsichord at age eight and later studied with notable figures like Pierre Hantaï and Christophe Rousset.
Composer Biography
Jean-Philippe Rameau's career as an opera composer only truly began in 1733 with the premiere of his work "Hippolyte et Aricie."
Compositional Technique
Rameau's 1706 "Premier Livre de Pièces de clavecin" includes an 'unmeasured prelude,' a genre he did not revisit in later works.
Compositional Technique
Rameau's 1724 collection features character pieces like "Les Niais de Sologne" (The simpletons of Sologne) and "Le Rappel des oiseaux" (The roll-call of the birds), showcasing his picturesque and observational style.
Recording & Production
This recording was made in the François Lang Music Library at Royaumont Abbey, surrounded by the extensive Rameau collection of Patrick Florentin.
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