Jean-Philippe Rameau ： Premier Livre Suite No.1 First Sarabande

This Sarabande is included in Rameau’s Premier Livre Suite No. 1. Its character is shaped by the slow, dignified gait of a sarabande, along with the changing harmonies and ornamented melody. It may be understood as consisting of two responding sections, with the repetitions helping to organize the musical flow. Points to listen for include the movement of the inner voices and bass supporting the principal melody, as well as the tension and release leading toward the cadences. On the piano, ornaments should not be rushed but treated naturally as part of the melody, while the phrases are carefully shaped with a steady sense of the beat’s weight. Use the pedal sparingly to avoid blurring the sonority, and bring out the work’s expressive qualities by attending to the balance between voices and its quiet dignity.