Piano
SKU:
BR.EB-8033
Piano
Lessons by Jean-Philippe
Rameau. Composed by
Jean-Philippe Rameau.
Edited by Heinz Walter.
Solo instruments;
stapled. Edition
Breitkopf. Suite;
Dances/marches; Baroque.
Score. 20 pages.
Breitkopf and Haertel #EB
8033. Published by
Breitkopf and Haertel
(BR.EB-8033).
ISBN
9790004174364. 9 x 12
inches.
This series
of easy piano music for
teaching purposes
presents pupils in the
lower and lower middle
grades with a carefully
chosen selection of
well-known and
lesser-known compositions
by important masters. The
volumes are deliberately
kept small in extant,
since it is more
stimulating for children
to change the teaching
material frequently.
Jean-Philippe Rameau
(1683-1764) is the second
great keyboard master of
the Baroque Age next to
Couperin. His works are
as unknown to pianists,
with few exceptions, as
they are famous among
harpsichord players. The
virtuosity and
imaginativeness of his
works lend themselves
especially well to the
sound of harpsichord,
which is why the piano
interpretation of works
by Couperin, Rameau,
Scarlatti and other
composers of that time
has been categorically
rejected. But, after all,
the works of Bach and
Handel were written for
the harpsichord and
clavichord, and no one
would dare question their
interpretation on the
pianoforte. In order to
introduce these
Impressionists of the
Baroque Era to piano
instructions, the editor
has added to this series
a folio of both
Couperin's (EB 8029) and
Rameau's music. The
selection of the pieces
is based on two criteria:
1. relatively modest
demands made on
technique, 2. various
musical forms of
expression. Baroque dance
forms and graceful
character pieces
(LaJoyeuse,
L'Indifferente) are
typical ofRameau's work.
Simplifications to a
small extent of the
harpsichord setting and
also of the omamentation
in the original version
were required, based on
the teaching experience
of the editor. The
indications for phrasing
and articulation are
those of the editor. The
Minuet on page 6 has been
precisely elaborated on
in this respect to serve
as a model, whereas the
remaining pieces contain
only suggestions. As in
other folios of this
series: what is here to
be stressed, is the
importance of working out
independently the
phrasing and the
dynamics. Directions for
this are given by the
espective footnotes;
these directions,
however, are not
obligatory. Indications
pertaining to dynamics
and tempo have been
omitted completely; the
clearly recognizable
character of the
individual pieces should
be direction enough. The
tonal possibilities of
the piano should in any
case by used subtly. The
very precise fingerings
have been adapted to the
suggested phrasings and
to the corresponding
realisation of trills
(according to the table).
Heinz Walter, Salzburg,
Spring 1980.
jean-philippe-rameau
