Скачать или смотреть Rameau - "Les Cyclopes" (piano)

Here is my piano interpretation of Jean-Philippe Rameau's "Les Cyclopes" from the 2nd Suite in D major (RCT 3) in his book "Pièces de clavessin" for harpsichord (1724).

Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764) was a French composer who was a contemporary of J. S. Bach. He is one of the greatest representatives of the Baroque music of the 18th century and composed especially operas and music for the harpsichord (the ancestor of the piano). Even though Rameau's music became old-fashioned and was virtually forgotten by the beginning of the 19th century, it has experienced a revival in the recent decades, notably thanks to pianists who have attempted to interpret his harpsichord pieces at the piano.

"Les Cyclopes" is among Rameau's most played pieces. Its title is quite enigmatic (like many others) and leaves a lot of room for the listener's imagination. "Les Cyclopes" is a surprisingly gentle and light dance (more precisely, a rondo) with a lot of catchy sections despite being written in the usually cold D-minor key. I have made the choice to play this piece slower and quieter at the piano in order to fully unfold its musicality thanks to the additional technical and musical potential which the piano offers compared to the harpsichord.