Definition

Proper noun * Jean-Philippe Rameau: A French composer and music theorist of the Baroque period. He is primarily known for his operas, ballets, and other stage works, and for his influential theoretical writings on harmony.

Examples of Usage

• Proper noun:
  • The opera Hippolyte et Aricie is one of Rameau's most famous works.
  • Scholars study Rameau's treatise to understand the development of harmonic theory.
  • The music of Rameau is characterized by its rich orchestration and dramatic power.

Advanced Usage

• "Rameau's nephew": This phrase most famously refers to (), a satirical dialogue by Denis Diderot. The work is a philosophical conversation, not a biographical account of the composer's actual nephew.
  • Diderot's "Rameau's Nephew" is a key text of the Enlightenment.

Variants and Related Words

• Rameauian (adj): Pertaining to or characteristic of the music or theories of Jean-Philippe Rameau.
  • The piece features a Rameauian use of harmony.

Synonyms

• Composer
• Music theorist
• Baroque composer

Related Phrases

• French Baroque music: The musical era and style to which Rameau's work belongs.
• Tragédie en musique: A genre of French opera in which Rameau was a master.

Noun

1. French composer of operas whose writings laid the foundation for the modern theory of harmony (1683-1764)