Ronde from “Elegant Indian Nations”Jean-Philippe Rameau1rank/position

“Rondo” from J. P. Rameau’s opera Les Indes galantes

One of the composers who represent the French Baroque is Rameau.

Today, Rameau is well known for his contributions to music theory, but he was also the figure who, as Lully’s successor, developed French opera.

Les Indes galantes is a work in the genre of opéra-ballet, which was popular in the French Baroque.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little StarJean-Philippe Rameau2rank/position

[Easy] One-Finger Piano ~ Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star ♪

For almost everyone who has just started learning the piano, it’s no exaggeration to say that “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” is the go-to beginner piece.

Its range is narrow—from C up to the A a seventh above—and it mostly moves stepwise to neighboring notes, so you can play it in time even with just one finger.

Once you’ve mastered playing the melody with a single finger, it’s a great idea to practice a one-finger accompaniment in the left hand too, so you can play with both hands.

You might also build on this by thinking, “I’ve played it with one finger—now let’s try using the other fingers!”

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Hippolyte et Aricie (Ippolito to Arishī)Jean-Philippe Rameau3rank/position

Jean-Philippe Rameau – Hippolyte et Aricie [Suite]

At the age of fifty, Rameau made a late start as an opera composer.

His milestone first work was Hippolyte et Aricie.

With this piece, Rameau earned high acclaim as an opera composer, and its innovative, delicate orchestration moved the people of Paris.

From this work onward, Rameau would go on to lead the Parisian opera scene.

The Festival of Hebe (Les fêtes d’Hébé)Jean-Philippe Rameau4rank/position

Rameau – Les Fetes D’Hébé

In 1697, a style of opera known as opéra-ballet emerged, with the first work being André Campra’s L’Europe galante.

Rameau also wrote famous opéra-ballets.

His representative works include Les Indes galantes (1735) and Les fêtes d’Hébé (1739).

The Birth of Osiris La Naissance d’Osiris (Part 1/3)Jean-Philippe Rameau5rank/position

Jean-Philippe Rameau: La Naissance d’Osiris (Part 1/3)

The Birth of Osiris (premiered in 1754) is an opera Rameau presented at the age of 71, created at the height of his artistic maturity.

It clearly showcases the thoughtful, intricate interplay of harmony of a composer who knew music inside out.

Hungary’s leading Capella Savaria Ensemble vividly brings out the work’s profound flavors.

Castor and Pollux (Castor et Pollux)Jean-Philippe Rameau6rank/position

Rameau: Castor et Pollux / Hervé Niquet, Le Concert Spirituel

“Castor et Pollux – Premiere in 1737” is a refined French Baroque drama that begins with a beautiful period-instrument prelude, leading into a serene chorus, and from there one is completely captivated by the opera’s allure.

The performance is by Nikolaus Harnoncourt with the venerable period-instrument orchestra Concentus Musicus Wien, which he founded in 1953 with members of the Vienna Symphony; they are renowned for their elegant, transparent, and superb playing.

Gavotte in D majorJean-Philippe Rameau7rank/position

A Piece I Admired in Childhood [Rameau: Gavotte in D major]

Based on the dance form of the gavotte and followed by six variations, this piece fully explores the expressive potential of keyboard instruments.

The gavotte theme features a light, dance-like rhythm, and the subsequent variations increase musical complexity through changes in harmonic progression and rhythm.

Published around 1726, the work brilliantly exemplifies the variation technique in Baroque music.

It poses a challenging test of technique on the harpsichord or piano, making it a recommended piece for those interested in Baroque music or captivated by the expressive possibilities of keyboard instruments.