J.-P. Rameau. Harpsichord Music, 1731 and later

Rameau, Jean-Philippe

Harpsichord Music

Pièces de clavecin avec une table pour les agrémens, Paris: Boivin, Le Clair, auteur, 1731, FIRST EDITION OF THE REVISED VERSION, 1 leaf (verso blank), [1], 33 pages, printed title-page, engraved table of ornaments and music, pp.28-33 on a large folding sheet

Nouvelles suites de pièces de clavecin...avec des remarques sur les différens genres de Musique, Paris: L'Auteur, Boivin, Le Clerc, no date [after 1760?], 1 leaf, 29 pages, the "Remarques" commencing on verso of title, without the later worklist 

2 volumes in one, oblong 4to (23.2 x 32.5cm), Dolmetsch Library stamp and pencil shelfmark ("II C 2") to verso of titles, ownership inscription ("Cugnac de Boisé") to left of table of ornaments of first volume, some modern pencil annotations to second volume, printed ownership label ("A. Dethou") laid down on new upper pastedown, contemporary green vellum boards, rebacked, folding leaves strengthened at fold, a few tears repaired, lower edge of title of first volume strengthened and outer corners of title of first volume restored, edges of last leaf of second volume strengthened  

RARE. All early editions of Rameau's magnificent Pièces de clavecin (1724) survive in only a small number of copies. The imprint to the edition contained here records Rameau's address ("rue S. Honoré, proche la rue de l'Echelle"), which is missing from later issues.

Rameau's keyboard works are celebrated for their advanced textures, extended range and dazzling virtuosity. The famous rondeau ("Les Cyclopes") in the Pièces de clavecin is printed on a large folding sheet so that all four pages can be played without the need for turning the page. Rameau excelled in descriptive pieces demanding considerable technical virtuosity, and the works here contain a number of celebrated examples, including "Le rappel des oiseaux", "Les tricotets", "Les tendres plaintes", "La poule", "Les sauvages" and "L'Egiptienne".

LITERATURE:

RISM R 184 and R 188; cf. Hoboken 218 and 219