La Ritournelle [CD-single] [Import]

Product Description
Sebastien Tellier finally releases his magnificent 'La Ritournelle' single in a bid to satiate the almost drug-like demand that has developed with the track. Released in 2004 in France, the track has previously only been available on import as a 12 inch vinyl release. The glorious original has been captured in condensed form by Mr. Dan who previously worked magic on Kylie's shimmering anthem 'Slow'. Chimes & acoustic textures add to the joyful emotion of Sebastien's love song. All in all this masterpiece remains undiminished & just keeps on growing towards a place near your heart. The Mr. Dan Magic Wand Mix is backed with the Album Version, 'Slow Lynch' & Jim Noir Mix. Lucky Number. 2005.

La Ritournelle,Sebastian Tellier,Lucky Number,5"CD Singles,Pop

Average customer rating: Love it! Fantastic! Rameau, Minkowski: an intelligent concert! A beautiful bit of late Baroque Color A hoot!

Rameau: Une Symphonie Imaginaire Manufacturer: Archiv Produktion ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Sextets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rameau | Rameau, Jean Philippe | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Rameau: Orchestral Suites (vol. 1) Vivaldi: Bajazet [Includes Bonus DVD] Biber: Missa Christi resurgentis Rameau: Ballet Suites Jean-Baptiste Lully: L'Orchestre du Roi Soleil ASIN: B000935TV8 Release Date: 2005-06-14

Tracks:

1. Ouverture
2. Scene Funebre
3. Air Tendre
4. Tambourins I & II
5. Air Tendre Pour Les Muses
6. Contredanse
7. Air Gracieux
8. Gavottes I & II
9. Orage
10. Prelude
11. La Poule
12. Musette
13. Ritournelle
14. Riguadons I & II
15. Danse Des Sauvages
16. Entre De Polymnie
17. Chaconne

Customer Reviews:

Love it!.......2006-11-10

Love it, love it, love it. Have not stopped playing it since it arrived and haven't gotten sick of it yet either. I bought it because I heard just one track briefly on the radio - bit of a gamble but it paid off. Great to drive to! Love the fast violin playing and the french horns. Rameau was one cool dude. Can't wait to share it with my dad. Am even wondering if I could wire the garage for sound so we can listen to Rameau while working there over Christmas! (Sorry this is not a high brow, classical music critic kind of review with lots of technical observations - I'm just a passionate classical music lover speaking from the heart).

Fantastic!.......2006-07-15

Great,I heard this piece on ABC Classic fm yesterday,the 14th of July....Amazon is a day late.Thank you to the programmer,they often use the savage dance as a theme.I must have this CD the thumping tympani and the tambourine really brightens up my day.I didn't even know there was a fugal bassoon movement!
The true french baroque is far better than any thing Handel could wright or borrow.Vivre Rameau!Beautifully played by all,the tempo and ornamentation's are perfect in all parts.Vivre Les Musciens du Louvre!Vivre Motorola for having a camera on their phones so I don't have to remember how to spell in french.
I do not work for any party mentioned.

Rameau, Minkowski: an intelligent concert!.......2006-04-14

Minkowki dedicated this album to his father, Dr. Alexandre Minkowski. The symphony imaginaire recorded live, is for him a personal intimate selection. This is intelligent, sensitive and extremely well played music by Rameau.
I stumbled upon this recording after being impressed by the last Bartoli recording with Les Musiciens du Louvre. Happy me!
The SACD is worth it.

A beautiful bit of late Baroque Color.......2005-09-12

I plan to give copies of this CD to my friends whose musical taste froze 35 years ago and who think of Baroque music as just so much "sewing machine music". Rameau was an imaginative instrumental colorist, and these dance pieces, taken from several of his operas and ballets, show him at his best in that regard.
While the conceit of calling this a "symphony" may seem strange, the pieces are arranged to form a nice sequence and, most importantly, are engagingly played by this early music ensemble. The interpretation is lively and the playing stylish. The sonics are detailed without being analytical.
I would recommend this to anyone as an introduction to the joys of French Baroque, but would encourage a follow-up purchase of one of the full operas.

A hoot!.......2005-08-20

Within a few seconds after pressing the "play" button for this CD, the sound of a percussionist beating the tar out of the tympani emergeged from my speakers. The waps and thumps are intermittenly interrupted by an orchestra on steroids. From there this production goes on a musical romp that I regret hearing come to an end. I'm not sure if this is authentic French baroque; but as a musical listening experience it is a blast. Great sound. Great energy. Wonderful music.

Average customer rating: Rameau and the Rococo

Rameau - Les Indes Galantes, Suites d'orchestre / La Chapelle Royale · Herreweghe Jean-Philippe Rameau , Philippe Herreweghe , and La Chapelle Royale Manufacturer: Hmf Musique D'abord ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Rameau | Rameau, Jean Philippe | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Operas | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Operas | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music $6.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Rameau, Jean Philippe | ( R ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Rameau: Orchestral Suites (vol. 1) Rameau: Anacréon; Daphnis et Eglé Rameau: Harpsichord Music (Complete), Vol. 2 Rameau: Harpsichord Music (Complete), Vol. 1 Rameau: Ballet Suites ASIN: B00004TVGG Release Date: 2000-08-15

Customer Reviews:

Rameau and the Rococo.......2007-01-09

I used to think the Rococo was nothing but Mozart and Haydn with a few lesser lights imitating them. I discovered Rameau in college when I bought an old Vox recording of Les Indes back in the 1960s. Gunter Kerr led his fine ensemble in a forthright performance. This recording by the Chapelle royale is a revelation. This is the full--as far as I can tell--set of incidental music to the opera, and what a joy the music is. It is full of the Rameau touches, and this recording along with another recording of the suites from La Naissance d'Osiris by the very fine Capella Savaria belongs in any serious rococo lover's library. Tops all the way--the Chaconne from the Les Indes being one of the supreme gifts of Rameau's art.

Average customer rating: Another coup for Abravanel. Nobody cleanses the palate like Satie.

Homage to Satie Manufacturer: Vanguard Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Satie | Satie, Erik | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Incidental Music | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Tone Poems | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Music Of Satie: Orchestra, Piano, Voice Benjamin Britten - The Turn of the Screw / Padmore · Milne · Wyn Davies · Montague · City of London Sinfonia · Hickox Dreamgirls (Two-Disc Showstopper Edition) Casino Royale (2-Disc Widescreen Edition) Planet Earth - The Complete BBC Series ASIN: B0007IA56Y Release Date: 2005-03-22

Customer Reviews:

Another coup for Abravanel. Nobody cleanses the palate like Satie........2006-02-04

Let's first say that I was not predisposed to like Satie, given my love for counterpoint (from Bach to Hindemith) and my respect for the nobility of the musical enterprise, as opposed to superficial fluff. So my 2,500+ collection of classical CDs is packed with "monumental" items (tons of Bruckner & Mahler versions, complete works of Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, Hindemith, etc.), most of which tends toward the heavy, thick side (if not sonically, then in terms of musical values and aesthetics). But I listened to these two Satie disks totally enthralled, breaking out into spontaneous smiles at what Satie has achieved. The "breath of fresh air" that critics have ascribed to Satie's works isn't mere hype, at least insofar as Satie is accurately represented in this orchestral set list: this truly is some of the most gorgeously crafted music I've ever heard. Most of the movements are concise to the extreme (which makes Satie something of the Anti-Bruckner), but this formal structure works to the advantage of the music, where elegant ideas are presented without excessive hyper-rationalization. Even the humorous, parodistic parts of the ballets are well-crafted.

The performances are outstanding across the board. The surprise, sonically, is the virtual absence of tape hiss, and the crystal clarity of this dynamic recording. It sounds better than several hundred digitally-recorded CDs in my collection! Too bad more analog era recordings don't receive so excellent a transfer and re-mastering (none of which are even credited on this CD). The engineers were apparently humble as well as perfectionists. (If their humility was involuntary, oh well.)

If you have preconceptions about Satie's "lack of depth," etc. (as I once did), this recording will realign your priorities. Satie's depth is found in a different place. In their own way, the various miniatures he has crafted are actually as intensely packed as any Webern movement for string quartet. Satie has stripped the music back to what HE regarded as the essentials. The result, far from being stark or austere, comes across as embodying musical joy in an utterly unpretentious manner. This is a CD I will likely break out every other month just to cleanse the palate. You HAVE to respect a composer who can bring a smile to your face, and you have to respect a conductor who knows how to bring such elemental music to vibrant life as Abravanel has done here. Highly recommended.

Average customer rating: Wonderful CD Versailles, Le Roi Soleil, et Lully A great introduction to the father of French opera

Lully: Les Divertissements de Versailles Jean-Baptiste Lully , Les Arts Florissants , William Christie , Sophie Daneman , and Paul Agnew Manufacturer: Erato ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Lully | Lully, Jean-Baptiste | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Christie, William | ( C ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Jean-Baptiste Lully: L'Orchestre du Roi Soleil Lully - Ballet Music for the Sun King / Mary Enid Haines · Aradia Baroque Ensemble · Kevin Mallon Lully: Le Roi Danse François Couperin: Les Concerts Royaux Rameau: Une Symphonie Imaginaire ASIN: B000063TE8 Release Date: 2002-06-11

Tracks:

1. Prelude pour les trompetes
2. Chantons les plaisirs charmants
3. Quittons notre vaine querelle
4. Chantons tous de l'Amour
5. Enfin il est en ma puissance
6. Chere Climene, dis-moi
7. Je vous aime, Nymphe charmante & Plainte du Dieu Pan
8. Duo des Nymphes
9. Laisse-nous en repos, Philene
10. L'hiver qui nous tourmente
11. Que le feu des forges s'allume
12. Trop indiscret Amour
13. Ah! J'attendrai longtemps
14. Armide, vous m'allez quitter/Passacaille

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful CD.......2005-09-22

I only would like to say that this is a first class disc. I love classical music since the barroque century to our days. Thank you very much.

Versailles, Le Roi Soleil, et Lully.......2002-06-19

Great music, wonderfully performed, historically accurrate,
what else could we ask for.

A great introduction to the father of French opera.......2002-06-11

Considering his historical importance as the founder of French Baroque opera, it is perhaps surprising that Jean-Baptiste Lully has not received the same degree of attention on disc as his rivals and followers. The revival of French Baroque music which has been such a phenomenon over the last two or three decades has only rarely paid him much attention. Listeners seem to find the harmonic daring of Marc-Antoine Charpentier or the incredible colour and imagination of Jean-Philippe Rameau far more to their taste. Lully's suave, well-crafted music is often dismissed as bland beside the music of these figures and that of Lully's English follower, Purcell. But as this well-filled (78 minutes) disc of extracts from the whole range of his stage music demonstrates, Lully was a considerable and innovative composer in his own right. If you are new to Lully, this is the ideal place to start.

The new recording tells the story of how this ambitious, and frequently ruthless, young Florentine transformed himself into a French citizen and friend of "Le Roi Soleil", just as he transformed the Italian opera of the mid-seventeenth century into something uniquely Gallic. Lully began by catering to the young King Louis XIV's mania for dance with a series of comedies-ballets written in collaboration with Moliere. Extracts from two of them, "Georges Dandin" and "L'Amour Medecin" are included here, where the Italian influence is still strong with plenty of lively comedy. This phase of Lully's career culminated with the amazing five-hour extravaganza, "Psyche", in 1671. Two powerful choruses from this divertissement start the disc.

It was while he was working on "Psyche" that Lully met the librettist Philippe Quinault who was to be his partner in forging a distinctively French form of opera, the 'tragedie lyrique'. Quinault's contribution was vitally important since Lully saw opera as an equal marriage of words and music. The key would be expressive recitative rather than the show arias that dominated the Italian 'opera seria' of the time. The chorus and ballet would also play a major part in the divertissements which ended each act, offering a chance for Lully to show off his musical imagination. Some of the best examples of this come in the extracts from the opera "Isis" (1677) included here. In fact the first audience found the music rather too imaginative and it soon acquired the reputation as a work for connoisseurs only, 'the musicians' opera'. One of the connoisseurs who appreciated it was Henry Purcell. The "Scene de Froid" inspired him to write the wonderfully atmospheric Frost Scene in his "King Arthur" (1691). You can hear immediately what appealed to the Englishman's imagination - the chattering chorus and shivering violins conjure up a vivid impression of extreme cold. It is quickly followed by a scene depicting blazing heat - the smithy of the Chalybes, where the ringing percussion suggests the music of Wagner's Nibelheim two hundred years later. But the most haunting music is a lament by the god Pan for the nymph Syrinx, after her transformation into a reed. It is touchingly accompanied by woodwind and an organ. The characteristic Lullian blend of words and music (which is possibly one reason why many non-French speaking Baroque enthusiasts find a whole Lully opera hard to listen to) is illustrated by scenes from "Armide" and "Roland". In the latter, the hero Roland searches for his lost love Angelique. Lully's music conjures up a beautiful pastoral scene using only smoothly sliding strings, becoming more and more troubled as Roland learns from the names carved into the trees that his beloved has married his rival, Medor. Finally, Roland explodes into rage, his anguish turns to madness and the music rages too. In "Armide", the eponymous heroine, a pagan sorceress, has lulled the Christian hero Renaud asleep so she can stab him to death. However, when she sees him lying defenceless, she falls in love with him and cannot bring herself to commit the murder. Armide's monologue included here, where she hesitates between hatred and love, has always been rightly regarded as one of the high points of the entire French repertoire with its masterly psychological depiction of the tortured enchantress. The disc ends with a love duet between Armide and Renaud from the final act of the opera, followed by another dance, the massive 'grande passecaille'. Its interweaving musical lines have an extraordinary, hypnotic beauty.

Christie's staging and recording of the opera "Atys" is widely considered one of the landmarks in the revival of Lully and this new disc is generally very well performed. My one quibble is with Rinat Shaham who takes the part of Armide - her voice is not really powerful enough to suggest the mighty sorceress, especially when compared with Guillemette Laurens who took the role in the complete recording under Philippe Herreweghe. But otherwise, highly recommended, especially to those who have yet to appreciate Lully's considerable musical gifts. (Brys)

Average customer rating: Awesome track so much so it will be the entrance for our wedding next week La Ritournelle becomes a suite

La Ritournelle Sebastian Tellier Manufacturer: Lucky Number ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Similar Items: L' Incroyable Verite Politics ASIN: B000AO9O8U Release Date: 2005-09-27

Tracks:

1. La Ritournelle (Mr Dan Magic Wand Mix)
2. La Ritournelle
3. Slow Lynch
4. La Ritournelle (Jim Noir Mix)

Album Description

Sebastien Tellier finally releases his magnificent 'La Ritournelle' single in a bid to satiate the almost drug-like demand that has developed with the track. Released in 2004 in France, the track has previously only been available on import as a 12 inch vinyl release. The glorious original has been captured in condensed form by Mr. Dan who previously worked magic on Kylie's shimmering anthem 'Slow'. Chimes & acoustic textures add to the joyful emotion of Sebastien's love song. All in all this masterpiece remains undiminished & just keeps on growing towards a place near your heart. The Mr. Dan Magic Wand Mix is backed with the Album Version, 'Slow Lynch' & Jim Noir Mix. Lucky Number. 2005.

Album Details

Sebastien Tellier Finally Releases his Magnificent 'la Ritournelle' Single in a Bid to Satiate the Almost Drug-like Demand that Has Developed with the Track. The Glorious Original, a Full Soundtrack in One, Has Been Captured in Condensed Form by Mr.dan Who Previously Worked Magic on Kylie's Shimmering Anthem 'slow'. Chimes and Acoustic Textures Add to the Joyful Emotion of Sebastien's Love Song.

Customer Reviews:

Awesome track so much so it will be the entrance for our wedding next week.......2006-03-19

Awesome track that I found as the closing to Superpitcher's today album released in 2005 on the Kompakt label, well at least I thought as its not listed on their website.

I'm a sucker for violins and string sounds in tracks and this one is poignant, hopeful, emotional and just beautiful really

cant wait to hear it on my big day! :)

La Ritournelle becomes a suite.......2005-10-11

The remixes fail to improve on the original (included), but this single is programmed like a suite with the 2 new remixes of "La Ritournelle" bookending the original and a brief, moody string instrumental from the album "Politics", "Slow Lynch". Just shy of 20 minutes playing time (bizarre UK regulations governing the length of cd singles), each track segues beautifully into the next. As they say in the trade, if you love the original you'll love this single.

Average customer rating: RAMEAU - MINKOWSKI & Les Musiciens du Louvre: sur le Ouvre posthume

Rameau: Une Symphonie imaginaire [Hybrid SACD] Manufacturer: Archiv Produktion ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Sextets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rameau | Rameau, Jean Philippe | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: J.S. Bach: Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, BWV 1001-1006 Concerto Veneziano [Hybrid SACD] Mozart: Flute Concertos; Rondo; Andante [Includes the Bis 2005 Catalog] [Hybrid SACD] The Chopin Ballades & Scherzos [Hybrid SACD] Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 [Hybrid SACD] ASIN: B00083FYQE Release Date: 2005-07-12

Customer Reviews:

RAMEAU - MINKOWSKI & Les Musiciens du Louvre: sur le Ouvre posthume.......2006-12-28

Before Rameau (1683-1764) there was instrumentation; after Rameau, there was orchestration. Then came Mozart, Beethoven, von Weber, Berlioz, Fry, Lizts, Gottschalk, Wagner, Lèfébure-Wélly, Franck, Bruckner, Mahler, and the rest is part of the world's music history.

In the beginning, Rameau was an expert organist intensely interested with the exploration of new instrumental possibilities in music which he had already explored with organ music both as an instrumentalist and composer. He treated the organ as a great symphonic instrument rather than a polyphonic instrument. What we have here is what we call now "homophonic" music. He was not the only one to enter this form of thinking and composing; indeed there were others, but that does not take any away from his enormous accomplishments and advances in music theory.

Rameau was throughly contemporary with François Couperin Le Grand (1668-1733), Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767), Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741), Giussepe Tartini (1692-1770), Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787) and many other very well known composers of the early and mid 1700's. There is no doubt that for the most part all of the above knew in great detail about each other's whereabouts and current musical developments; assimilation of each other's theoretical and compositional ideas and forms was a widely accepted practice during that time period.

Rameau as a matter of fact did not discover anything whether in music and/or instrumental sound acoustics but formally stated sound and acoustic "combinations" which if and when executed by composer and instrumentalists added to the clarity of the whole.

As our old friend Mr. Plato (428-347 BC) remarked (I hope more than once), the foundation of anything in this universe (music included) in itself is indifferent to the existence of our universe. Indeed, indifferent to our minds and evanescent existence. Put it another way, music would exist even if musicians and/or we the listeners did not. I know this could be a debatable philosophical point for some but that's a theme for another discussion somewhere else.

With his compositions Rameau explored first at the organ and then with opera, ballet and overtures orchestral and musical methods, and acoustic forms which in the end provided other musicians/composers in general with highly idealized representations of the real world, whatever the real world of acoustics in reality can be said to be.

There is so much music (of all kinds), and composers which to this date knowingly or not, having adopted and assimilated Rameau's dictums have achieved such a mastery of acoustic "combinations" with effects of space, sonority, tone placement, antiphony, echo, silence, etc., etc, that have made this a wonderful world. One that Rameau re-discovered and which now-a-days is an integral and essential part of recognized music theory.

Rameau wrote a number of "treatises" and books on music theory; the two most important are "Traité de l'harmonie" and "Gènération harmonique." In these two studies he described or "explicated" exhaustively all known to him blends of timbres/tones, space and reverberation combinations; to this day no musician could do without them! His main point was that melody and harmony are not independent of each other. These musical combinations were known by many, but Rameau was the first to write about them and put them to practice in a formal fashion - again - as far as we know now.

I may add here that organists in general knew what Rameau knew; organistis knew very well how to score and employ acoustics and concomitant specific reverberation times and silences to obtain desired sound effects with their organ compositions. J.S. Bach was a master of this technique incidentally. It was and still is part of every good organist to "have the knowledge" and the skills to partake with organ music in such way; we also intuitively know when an organist is not for whatever reason applying these acoustic principles during a performance, generally to everybody's dislike.

We must add here that Archangelo Corelli, Giuseppe Tartini and J.S. Bach for example scored "in scordatura" for string instruments, especially for viola da gambas but also for violins. Scoring "in scordatura" basically produces the same acoustical effects and results as those organists obtained with their organs;"in scordatura" in plain musical language means "mis-tuning." Scoring in this manner was a common practice during the 1600 and 1700's because it produced acoustical effects of the desired kind, that is, natural sound effects.

Never-the-less, Rameau was apparently the first one to write and compose music following "natural" sound combinations without the need for scordatura. This is Rameau's legacy for the ages.

He was (again, probably) the first to describe, justify and explain harmonic practice in music whithin a coherent system derived from the "nature" of sounds. It had been there all the time and Rameau just "nurtured" the idea. Again, we have here another example of "nature" and "nurture." Remember Mr. Plato's dictum?

Very few composers before Rameau had conciously exposed and/or utilized that knowledge aside for the ocassional "in scordatura." We must resort here to Nikolaus Harnoncourt's "The Musical Dialogue - Thoughts on Monteverdi, Bach and Mozart" and Paul Bekker's "The Orchestra" to fully understand the inner works of this process. I highly recommend lecture of these two capital books as well as Dr. Philip Gossett's English translation of Rameau's "Traité de l'harmonie."

With this SACD Marc Minkowski and his Les Musiciens de Louvre amply succeed in the representation of Rameau's orchestral music.

Rameau never wrote a symphony as such; let's consider that for a moment. At about the same time J.S. Bach was calling some of his compositions "Symphonias", but it was not ultil his son Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach (1714-1788) threw away the traditional polyphonic media (instrumentation) or subordinated them to the dominant idea of harmonic development that a "formal" symphonic form appeared; we call this "homophonic" music incidentally.

There were no symphonies until that time (C.P.E. Bach's time) but only "concertos" of the "grosso" kind. Concerti grossi (Italian for big concerts) were a popular form of Baroque music whereby an orchestra ensemble passed musical material between an small group of soloists (the concertino) and the full orchestra (the ripieno).

That's the main reason for the added title to this SACD: "...un symphonie imaginaire." This SACD is about symphonies; symphonies which were never formally scored by Rameau. We are asked here and now to think about this music as being an imaginary symphony...or pieces of symphonies, or opera...ballets. Indeed not an easy proposition but, just after the first few bars of the the first track we realize that Rameau had a new perspective in music; his music was all about orchestration.

Did Minkowski and his group succeed in their mission? Obviously the answer is a resounding yes! Minkowski and his musicians created these imaginary symphonies out of some orchestral music originally written for operas and ballets, and some specific overtures. These were orchestral parts composed during the last thirty years of Ramaeau's life. Previously he had only composed keyboard music mostly for organs.

Presently, the question might be as follows: where do we begin with this SACD?

The instruments: the instruments are all original period instruments
and tuned to a prevalent a'= 415 Hz (so it's stated in the notes and my chromatic tuner corroborates exactly that) and that's very different than today's a'= ~ 440 Hz. The instrument's sound in this recording is different, totally different, and the tuning of the strings bespeaks well of the mastery of this orchestra's players. Remarkable, it's all I can say!

Minkowski, the conductor. There is no doubt in my mind that he, along with Nikolaus Harnoncourt and Andrew Manze, is the dominant figure in Baroque music at the present time. You can not do better than this or these if we include the other two conductors.

The musicians. What can I say about them? That they have perfect pitch? Yes. That they play all the notes? Yes. That their string instruments had to be re-strung to a'= 415 Hz instead of playing "in scordatura"? I think so. Can they play in harmony? This is a great rendition of musical harmony at it's purest form.

I think Rameau with this music and specially it's orchestration showed to the future the shape of things to come. This was the beginning of the end of the Baroque and the start of a new era.

There are no words that could possibly describe the level of excellence which is achieved in this and the other Baroque recordings this conductor and musical group have been involved with. We do know this is the normal state of affairs with Minkowski and the musicians that subordinate to him. This is absolutely perfect.

The sound, again, Archiv has produced another SACD reference recording. It's a true 5.1 DTS recording which means the sound will be coming out of six speakers if played in an SACD player. The total surround sound is as real as one could get and much better and more realistic than the same version in just plain stereo. In my opinion the SACD is far superior than the stereo version.

I would not hesitate for a moment in recommending this SACD or any other that Minkowski and his musicians throw at us. Please hit us again and again with recordings of this caliber.

FINAL WORDS: B U Y I T - NOW.

Average customer rating:

Jean Philippe Rameau: Hippolyte Et Aricie (Suite) Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Rameau | Rameau, Jean Philippe | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B000001TW2 Release Date: 1992-12-03

Average customer rating: delicate & uplifting An enchanting and refreshing delight Ignore the review below. There is no danger here. Danger, Danger... I thought it was great!

Lully - Ballet Music for the Sun King / Mary Enid Haines · Aradia Baroque Ensemble · Kevin Mallon Jean-Baptiste Lully , Kevin Mallon , and Aradia Baroque Ensemble Manufacturer: Naxos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Lully | Lully, Jean-Baptiste | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music CDs Under $7 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Lully: Les Divertissements de Versailles Rameau: Orchestral Suites (vol. 1) Jean-Baptiste Lully: L'Orchestre du Roi Soleil Lully: Le Roi Danse Lully: Grands Motets, Vol 1 (Te Deum; Miserere; Plaude laetare Gallia) /Le Concert Spirituel * Niquet ASIN: B000009CJL Release Date: 2000-10-06

Tracks:

1. Chaconne Des Scaramouches, Frivelins Et Arlequins
2. Ouverture
3. Recits Italiens Chantes Par Mademoiselle De La Barre Et La Signora Anna Bergerotti
4. Ritournelle Et Recit Chante Par Mademoiselle Hilaire
5. Ritournelle Et Recit De La Fortune Chante Par Mademoiselle Hilaire
6. Petite Chaconne
7. Recit Chante Par La Signora Anna
8. Ritournelle Et Recit Italien
9. Chaconne Des Maures
10. Ouverture
11. Bourree Pour Les Basques
12. 2 Air Pour Les Mesmes
13. Air Pour Les Paysans Et Paysanes
14. Gigue Pour Scaramouche
15. 2 Air Pour Les Postures De Scaramouche
16. 2 Air Pour Les Matelots Jouans Des Trompettes Marines; 3 Air Pour Les Esclaves Et Singes Dansans
17. 3 Air Pour Les Docteurs, Frivelins, Et Polichinelles
18. Air Pour Les Esclaves Dansans
19. Air Pour Les Matassins
20. Gigue Pour Bacchus
21. Gavotte En Rondeau
22. 1 Air Pour Les Braves Et Les Coquettes
23. Ritournelle Et Chanson Contre Les Jaloux
24. Le Damigelle Delle Cochette
25. 2 Air Pour Les Braves Jaloux
26. Air Pour L'Este Et Ses Suivants
27. Ouverture
28. 1 Entree
29. 2 Entree
30. 2 Ouverture
31. Gavotte Pour Les Satyres
32. Sarabande
33. Air Pour Le Vieillard Et Sa Famille
34. Gavotte Pour Les Suisses
35. Bourree Pour Les Coutisans

Customer Reviews:

delicate & uplifting.......2006-05-30

This isn't the most dramatic of discs, but it's very relaxing, bathing the listener in a smooth, gentle sound that to me feels like it could be devotional religeous music. (That it isn't only adds to my own enjoyment.) It doesn't grab attention but rather sneaks up on the conciousness, while some of the playful melodies stick in the mind without the listener being aware of where they have heard them.

I bought this disc because I wanted to hear some Lully, and this was a cheaper Naxos disc, but I want to hear some more now that I have experieced the delight of this composer.

An enchanting and refreshing delight.......2004-02-12

This music is so uplifting --- it seduces the listener to enter another world. Both sopranos, Haines and Nafziger, are wonderful. But Nafziger, without a doubt, is essentially the highlight of this CD. Her voice soars to ethereal heights with stately conviction, all the while conveying such warmth, comfort and passion. This is a great young talent that will one day command international attention.

The Aradia ensemble should be congratulated for presenting such music with absolute precision and a depth of character. Bravo!

Ignore the review below. There is no danger here........2002-10-04

This is a terrific disc: it's one of my personal favourites, and I recommend it highly. The Aradia Ensemble plays very well under the direction of Kevin Mallon, and Haines' singing is excellent: her duet with Nafziger on track 3, "Récits Italiens chantés par Mademoiselle de la Barre et la Signora Anna Bergerotti," is quite beautiful. This disc is not quite as good as a more recent release, "Les Divertissements de Versailles" by William Christie and Les Arts Florissants, but at the low Naxos price this one's a bargain. If you're a Lulliste like myself, you'll want both of them, without question.

Like "music fan" below, I prefer period performances, especially when it comes to French Baroque music. But in my opinion, his review of this disc is nonsense. The Aradia Ensemble provides an authentic performance on period instruments. Kazoos are included on _one_ track, as a substitute for an obsolete monochord instrument: the trumpet marine. The single string of the trumpet marine creates a brassy buzz that sounds a lot like a kazoo, believe it or not. Far from an historical perversion, the result is quite authentic, and comical too, as the composer intended. So don't let "music fan's" prejudices put you off: this disc is as authentic as it is entertaining.

Danger, Danger..........2002-03-20

Well performed and recorded this disc is marred by the fact that the performances are inauthentic. Kevin Mallon's penchant for Stokowskian like acrobatics leads him to substitute kazoos and paper and comb for authentic instruments in these performances. For some this might be cute and sexy and oh so hip. For me, admittedly someone who prefers authentic performance (all that historical training perhaps), this is just simple historical perversion (a common malady amongst record company executives and conductors who fancy themselves pop culture icons, good businessmen, and aesthetically omniscient).

I am surprised at Naxos. Ethics should require that record companies let us consumers know that specific performances are not authentic (particularly when period instruments are ostesibly used), cut, adapted, or whatever. That so many record companies don't do this probably is the best indicator of the lack of honesty and integrity amongst so many record producers.

Anyway, the moral of the story is this: stick with those who brought you in this repertoire. Opt for Christie and Minkowski here and stay away from the machinations of Kevin Mallon.

I thought it was great!.......1999-05-05

I really liked this CD! It sounded light and airy and very "original baroque." I find it's a wonderful thing to listen to when you're cleaning up the house because it sounds great in the background too. Most of the ballet excerps are light and have a good beat. The only thing I didn't like is that they played the kazoo on one peice; it was funny once, but then I thought it was a little inapropriate. I wanted to hear the music. Anyway, great CD, Aradia!

Average customer rating:

Roi Danse Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Lully | Lully, Jean-Baptiste | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Marches | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Antiqua Musica | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Cologne Musica Antiqua | ( C ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Sonaten aus Dresden Bachiana ~ Music by the Bach Family / Musica Antiqua Köln · Goebel Rameau - Les Indes Galantes / Petibon, Croft, Hartelius, Agnew, Rivenq, Berg, Strehl, Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Paris Opera ASIN: B000207LZU Release Date: 2004-08-10

Tracks:

1. Te Deum: Symphonie
2. Bocanne Primitive
3. Bocanne Compliqu
4. Phan: Troupe d'AstrDansante (Prologue)
5. Ballet de la Nuit: Ouverture
6. Ballet des Plaisirs: Sarabande
7. Ballet de la Nuit: Le Roi Reprntant le Soleil Levant
8. Xerx Air Pour Les Matelots Jouant des Trompettes Marines
9. Xerx Air Pour Les Esclaves et Singes Dansants
10. Xerx Air Pour Les Postures de Scaramouche
11. Xerx Air Pour Les Docteurs, Frivelins et Polichinelles
12. Xerx Air Pour Les Esclaves Dansants
13. Idylle Sur la Paix: Air Pour Madame la Dauphine
14. Ballet d'Alcidiane: Ritournelle et Air de Mademoiselle Hilaire
15. Ballet d'Alcidiane: Ouverture
16. Triomphe de l'Amour: Ouverture
17. Pers Entrdes DivinitInfernales (Acte III, Sc 10)
18. Bourgeois Gentilhomme: Marche Pour la Cmonie des Turcs
19. Bourgeois Gentilhomme: Giourdina
20. Bourgeois Gentilhomme: Chaconne des Scaramouches, Frivelins et ...
21. Ombre de Mon Amant (Air de Cour)

Tracks:

1. Triomphe de l'Amour: Prde de la Nuit
2. Pomone: Passons Nos Jours Dans Ces Vergers (Acte I, Sc 1)
3. Pomone: Que Voyez-Vous, Mes Yeux? (Acte II, Sc 1)
4. Armide: Plus J'Observe Ces Lieux (Acte II, Sc 3) [Instrumental]
5. Atys, Le Sommeil: Dormons, Dormons Tous (Acte III, Sc 4)
6. Armide: Passacaille (Acte V)
7. Armide: Prde (Acte II, Sc 5)
8. Folies d'Espagne
9. Amants Magnifiques: Entrd'Apollon
10. Triomphe de l'Amour: Entrd'Apollon
11. Triomphe de l'Amour: Deuxi Air (Acte IV, Sc 2)
12. Isis: C'est Lui Dont Les Dieux Ont Fait Choix - Publions en Tous Lieux
13. Armide: Que l'lat de Son Nom (Prologue)
14. Amadis: Esprits EmpressNous Plaire - Que le Ciel Annonce la ...

Average customer rating: Beautiful Sumptuous, cheerful and elegant! Great Example of French Baroque Dance Royale Delightful Music

Danse Royale: Music of the French Baroque Court & Theatre Manufacturer: Dorian Recordings ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Charpentier | Charpentier, Marc-Antoine | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Lully | Lully, Jean-Baptiste | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Trio Sonatas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chatham Baroque | ( C ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Henry Purcell: Sonatas and Theatre Music Reel of Tulloch: Baroque Music of Scotland and Ireland Lully - Ballet Music for the Sun King / Mary Enid Haines · Aradia Baroque Ensemble · Kevin Mallon Jean-Baptiste Lully: L'Orchestre du Roi Soleil ASIN: B00001O2XG Release Date: 1999-09-14

Tracks:

1. Ste Italienne: Sym De Logistile
2. Ste Italienne: Ritournelle D'alma Mia
3. Ste Italienne: (Untitled-6/4)
4. Ste Italienne: Plainte Italienne De Psyche
5. Ste Italienne: Premier Air
6. Ste Italienne: Les Oyseaux
7. Ste Italienne: La Chaconne D'Amadis
8. L'Empire De L'amour: Les Mortels: Ritournelle
9. L'Empire De L'amour: Les Genies: Deuxieme Air/Rondeau
10. L'Empire De L'amour: Les Dieux: Psiche Ritournelle
11. L'Empire De L'amour: Prologue: Sarabande
12. L'Empire De L'amour: Les Dieux: Deuxieme Air/Musette
13. L'Empire De L'amour: Les Dieux: Premier Tambourin
14. Le Divertissement Royal: Ritournelle Des Amazons
15. Le Divertissement Royal: Trio De Monsieur Charpentier
16. Le Divertissement Royal: Jouissons
17. Le Divertissement Royal: Tu M'abandone Ingrat Tircis
18. Le Divertissement Royal: Ritournelle
19. Le Divertissement Royal: Les Contrefaisseurs
20. Le Divertissement Royal: Passacaille D'Armide
21. Trios Pour Le Coucher Du Roy: Premier Trio (Sym)
22. Trios Pour Le Coucher Du Roy: 2a Trio En Ste
23. Trios Pour Le Coucher Du Roy: Sarabande
24. Trios Pour Le Coucher Du Roy: 4a. Trio En Ste 'Dans Nos Bois'
25. Trios Pour Le Coucher Du Roy: Minuet 'La Jeune Iris Me Fait'
26. Trios Pour Le Coucher Du Roy: Ritournelle De Scocapur
27. Trios Pour Le Coucher Du Roy: Menuet En Ste
28. Trios Pour Le Coucher Du Roy: 2nd Menuet En Ste
29. Trios Pour Le Coucher Du Roy: 3rd Menuet En Ste
30. Ste Pastorale: La March Royalle
31. Ste Pastorale: Beaux Yeux De Climenne
32. Ste Pastorale: Le Beau Berger Tirsis/Belle Et Charmante Brune/Tirsis
33. Ste Pastorale: Laissons La Nost Troupeux
34. Ste Pastorale: Vodevilles
35. Ste Pastorale: De Dans Mon Petit Redhuy
36. Ste Pastorale: Menuet Almants
37. Ste Pastorale: Vodeville
38. Ste Pastorale: La Muzette De Mr. Mouret
39. Ste Pastorale: Le Cotillion En Ste
40. Ste Pastorale: Menuet Almants

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful.......2007-06-12

I've written elsewhere that I think Julie Andrijeski is one of the finest Baroque violinists working on the North American continent. This CD proves it; it also shows off the fact that she's a crack Baroque dancer herself and a wonderful instructor of Baroque dance. All the tunes here dance, and the ensemble is flawless.

Sumptuous, cheerful and elegant!.......2002-11-29

More wonderful arrangements by Chatham Baroque, this time focusing on French Baroque Music! The deep, rich sound of two violins over a ground of gamba, theorbo (a big, long-necked lute) and guitar is rich and moving. "The majority of trio music at the French court," according to the CD's insert notes, "was composed in order to fulfill the king's every wish for music within his own household. Louis the XIV adored music and dance, and therefore surrounded himself with it from the moment he awoke until he dropped off to sleep." A sentiment I can well understand, particularly with music such as this. Many of the selections are compositions of Jean-Baptiste Lully, King Louis' Italian friend and eventually chief of music, who provided the court with dances of "crisp, rhythmic vitality" inspired by native French music and culture. Bearing this out are Patricia Halverson's occasional imitation of folksy drones on her gamba, and percussionist Danny Mallon's tasteful drum, tambourine and even castanet accompaniments to several of the more upbeat dances. As in other Chatham Baroque releases, such colorful twists of instrumentation and technique add color and interest, without seeming at all out of place in an album of Baroque chamber music. For more French music from the time of Louis XIV, try also the "The Sun King's Paradise" by the Palladian Ensemble.

Great Example of French Baroque.......2002-01-19

... Although there are only four (sometimes five) musicians playing, their sound is somehow very full and robust. I already own a number of recordings of Lully's music but most of the selections here were new to me. Excellent!

Dance Royale.......2000-03-21

Danse Royale by Chatham Baroque contains more than three dozen dance and small theatrical pieces from the Court of Louis XIV. If there is one thing you learn while listening to this CD or any other CD by Chatham Baroque, it is this: these guys know what they're doing and they do it very well. Everything (pitch, ensemble and overall musical direction) is absolutely rock solid. This CD is a joy to listen to.The ensemble plays with great intelligence and skill on this CD. Violinists Julie Andrijeski and Emily Davidson each have a strong technique and play together well. Patricia Halverson on gamba and Scott Pauley on Guitar complete this surprisingly full sounding quartet. The texture is big and lush without ever being out of focus as the musicians fill a room without ever seeming to forget that they are playing chamber music. The ensemble addresses the challenges of using 17th century embellishments and rhythmic complexities with great ease. The attention to historical detail is impressive.Roughly half of the pieces on this CD are by Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687), the great Florentine violist (born: Giovanni Batista Lulli) turned French court composer. The rest of the music was composed by lesser-known, mostly anonymous, composers. A real discovery on this CD is a gem by the famous chess theorist Andreí Duncan Philidor.If there is a downside on this CD it is that all of the works are rather short (most are under two minutes) and so the result is a long string of extremely small though beautiful pearls. To be sure, the music is arranged into five dance suites and those suites do have some inner logic to them. The liner notes, however, are unclear as to whether the choice of works and their arrangement is original or Chatham Baroque's.Overall, with a remarkable command of their instruments and with great fidelity to their historical contexts, Chatham Baroque produced a wonderful CD.

Delightful Music.......2000-03-14

Wonderfully lively music played by excellent musicians. I play it repeatedly while I'm at the computer and just never seem to tire of it, although I have numerous other CD's asking for their turn.

Album Review:

1. Last Dance: Soundfactory Classics
2. Live You All Over [CD-single]
3. Memories Are My Only Witness
4. Ministry of Sound-Clubber's Guide to Ibiza [Import]
5. Ministry of Sound: The Annual 2004 UK Summer 2004 [Import]
6. More Grip
7. Music Like Dirt
8. Must B 21
9. Neu
10. Niceland

Album Review

album review

Album Review

Absolutely Hectic [Import]

Die Jakobsleiter / Friede Auf Erden

I Know An Old Lady

Music: Going to My Baby

Essential Collection

Hallucination

Gospel Favourites [Import]

germanbooks88.com Music: A Festival of Baroque

Country Music Hall of Fame 1976

El Grande: Como Hueso Compadre!!!!

Euphorion

Evening Raga [Live]

Extreme Clubbing, Vol. 4

Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3

Kansas City Live