Fontainebleau Operas for the Court of Louis XV of France by Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764)
By Paul F. Rice
Dr. Paul F. Rice
During the 18th century, the French court made yearly trips to the chateau of Fontainebleau during the autumn months, partaking of the abundant hunting in the surrounding area, and enjoying evenings of operas and plays presented by the leading performers from Paris.
Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764), the leading French composer of the period, was asked to present five new operas at the chateau in 1753 and 1754. Only one of these works was ever published and three of the five were never heard in Paris. Consequently, these works have remained little known.
This book by Paul Rice, an associate professor in the School of Music, presents Rameau's works first heard at Fontainebleau in the context of their compositional and performance histories, a context which is rich in court intrigues and social change. This study is the first published work to investigate these operas in detail, Rameau's relationship to the court and the public opera house of Paris is reevaluated, and the richness of Rameau's musical imagination is revealed in works from his maturity.
Dr. Barbara Reul, Luther College University of Regina, said Dr. Rice's work has achieved a balance between music-historical research and systematic analysis of musical works in this book. “It will not only be of interest to musicians but sure to attract scholars from other disciplines as well.”
Another reviewer said the author “is to be commended on the painstaking work evident in this ambitious work. The appendixes are excellent especially the inventory of dance movements. There is a great deal of valuable and erudite material in this book. This book provides an opportunity to know more about these works and their social, political and musical significance,” said Mary O'Keeffe, performing harpsichordist of Rameau Music
The book was published by the Edwin Mellen Press.
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