Jean-Philippe Rameau

Born in Dijon in 1683 and died in Paris in 1764; Jean-Philippe Rameau joined composing for harpsichord and stage to fundamental investigations of musical harmony. As an organist he worked in Avignon, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon and Lyon, among other places, before settling permanently in Paris in 1722. With his „Traité de l’harmonie“, published in the same year, he developed a systematic theory of harmony and established his reputation as a music theorist. His first harpsichord volume had already appeared in 1706; his vocal output includes, besides the stage works, cantatas and motets. „Hippolyte et Aricie“ opened his career at the Paris Opéra in 1733, followed on its programmes by works such as „Les Indes galantes“, „Castor et Pollux“ and „Dardanus“. Appointed royal chamber composer in 1745, he worked for the musical stage into old age; his last tragédie lyrique „Les Boréades“ was not performed in his lifetime.