Table of Contents

Prologue List of Abbreviations 1. Introduction 2. Rameau and Rousseau Launch the Debate 3. Music as Expressive Art: Rameau versus Rousseau on Expressive Means and Content 4. Music as Science: The Contribution of d'Alembert 5. Music as Art and Science: Changing Conceptualizations by Diderot, 1748-1760 6. Music as Art and Science: Changing Conceptualizations by Diderot, 1761-1771 Epilogue Key Passages in Translation Chapter 2:
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, from Letter sur la musique française
Jean-Philippe Rameau, from Observations sur notre instinct pour la musique Chapter 3:
Jean-Philippe Rameau, from Erreurs sur la musique dans l'Encyclopédie
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, from Dictionnaire de musique, "Opéra" Chapter 4:
Jean le Rond d'Alembert, from Élémens de musique théorique et pratique, "Discours préliminaire" Chapter 5:
Denis Diderot, from Entretiens sur "Le Fils naturel," Troisième entretien
Denis Diderot, from Leçons de clavecin et principes d'harmonie, par M. Bemetzrieder Select Bibliography Index

About the Author

Cynthia Verba has long devoted her scholarship to the rich musical debates of the French Enlightenment, with many of the issues revolving around the composer-theorist Jean-Philippe Rameau, as both subject and participant in the debates. Her most recent book, Dramatic Expression in Rameau's Tragédie en Musique (CUP, 2013) shifts the emphasis from the Enlightenment debates about music to the music itself, focusing on Rameau's own tragedies.