“Ever heard of a street that echoes with musical notes?” That is Rue Jean Rameau in Marseille. It is a street named after the famous French composer, Jean-Philippe Rameau. The Rue Jean Rameau sits in Marseille’s 12th arrondissement. More precisely it lies within the Bois Luzy-Jean Rameau quarter.
The Rue Jean Rameau stretches 577 meters. It offers a direct route between Saint-Barnabé and Bois-Luzy. Imagine this street before the metro. The bus line 8 was the link. It ran from the city center to Saint-Julien. It went between Avenue de Saint-Julien and Avenue de Bois-Luzy. Today a different bus line mirrors that route from Les Caillols.
Before it was Rue Jean Rameau, it had two other names. It was once known as Traverse de Bois-Luzy. Also it was once called Traverse Bazin. The city officially named it Rue Jean Rameau.
Jean-Philippe Rameau was a master of the late Baroque period. Born in 1683, he left his mark. He was not only a composer but also a music theorist. His father wanted him to be a lawyer. Young Rameau failed at school. At 17, a young widow made fun of his grammar. He tried to improve but failed.
At 18, he pursued music. He traveled to Italy but only reached Milan. The next year, he found work as an organist. He worked in different cities like Avignon, Clermont, Dijon, and Lyon. He spent a short time in Paris. But the city did not appreciate him. Even though he published a fine suite of harpsichord pieces in A minor in 1706.
Back in Clermont by 1715, Rameau signed a 29-year contract to be a cathedral organist. He then began researching musical harmony. He argued that traditional theory was flawed. Rameau based his studies on the natural overtone series. He created a harmony system. His “Treatise on Harmony” was published in Paris in 1722. This brought him fame.
Getting released from his Clermont contract was a task. During an evening service, he played unpleasant sounds. He used the most unpleasing stops. He added rending discords. But after his release, he played beautifully. He evoked emotions in the congregation.
Returning to Paris, Rameau thrived. He released “Harpsichord Pieces, with a Method for Fingering” in 1724. This was more successful than his first volume. He became a sought-after teacher. Writing music for the Fair theatres sparked his interest in dramatic composition. The sight of two Louisiana Indians inspired “Les Sauvages”. Later this piece was used in his opera-ballet “Les Indes galantes”.
At 42, he married a 19-year-old singer. She performed in some of his operas. They had four children. Le Riche de la Pouplinière was Rameau’s influential contact. He was one of France’s wealthiest men. Rameau led La Pouplinière’s private orchestra for 22 years. He also taught the financier’s wife.
Rameau’s family moved into La Pouplinière’s mansion. They spent summers at their château. The relationship ended when La Pouplinière separated from his wife. Rameau was replaced by Karl Stamitz. Abbé Pellegrin became Rameau’s librettist. They worked together on “Hippolyte et Aricie”. André Campra said that Rameau’s opera had enough music for ten operas.
Some found Rameau’s music too complex. They were used to Jean-Baptiste Lully’s operas. Rameau admired Lully’s declamation. Voltaire initially quipped about Rameau’s knowledge of music. He later supported Rameau and wrote librettos for him.
By the mid-1750s, some writers turned against Rameau. They preferred Italian music. Rameau’s fame declined. The public favored simple tunes. Rue Jean Rameau stands as a tribute. It honors a composer who pushed musical boundaries. It is a place where music history and Marseille’s daily life meet.