Mouret
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Jean-Joseph MOURET |
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Jean-Joseph Mouret (moor-AY) was a French composer. He was very popular in his day, both as a singer and a composer. He is not one of our better known composers today. However, many people know the Rondeau because it has been the theme song for Masterpiece Theater on Public Television for many years. It is a wonderful piece for trumpets. You may play it in band some day.
The Baroque rondeau was an instrumental musical form with themes repeated in a set pattern. The French rondeau was the ancestor of the classical period rondo. In a rondo, a single main theme alternates with new themes. With the letter A representing the main theme, the rondo might look like this: ABACADA. One of my teachers called it a rondo sandwich with the letter A representing bread and the other letters representing different fillings. The rondo is frequently used in the final movements of sonatas and symphonies. It is sometimes a complete work, as in Mendelssohn's Rondo capriccioso.
Mouret was an amateur violinist. He composed music for operas, ballets and light music for the theater. While he was very popular for many years, his last years were very sad. He lost all of his music positions and had to rely on his friends for support. He died in poverty.
Additional Info
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Compositions:
Rondeau from the First Symphonic Suite
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Key Terms:
rondeau - rondo - a musical work or movement which has a principal theme that alternates with new themes (Remember the rondo sandwich.)
amateur - one who engages in an activity for pleasure rather than for money or professional reasons
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