Jean-Féry Rebel – Les élémens

Jean-Féry Rebel (1666-1747)

Les élémens (1737)

1. Le Cahos : L’Eau - L’Air - La Terre - Le Feu [00:00]​
2. Loure I: La Terre [06:59]​
3. Chaconne : Le Feu [08:43]​
4. Ramage : L’Air [11:11]​
5. Rossignols [12:30]​
6. Rondeau : Air pour l’Amour [13:45]​
7. Loure [II] [14:50]​
8. Sicillienne [16:38]​
9. Caprice [17:51]​
10. Premier Tambourin : L’Eau [20:46]​
11. Second Tambourin : L’Eaux [21:43]​
12. Premier Tambourin : L’Eau [22:35]

***

Here's what Thomas wrote on his original video:

Les Élémens, simphonie nouvelle is ballet composed for instrumental ensemble in 1737 and 1738 by Jean-Féry Rebel. This work is remarkable for the harmonic audacity of its introduction, unexpected at the time of its composition.

“The elements painted in dance and in music seemed to me susceptible of a pleasant variety, as much in relation to the different genres of music as in relation to the dancers.
The introduction to this symphony was natural, It was Le cahos even, this confusion which reigned between the Elements before the moment when subjected to invariable laws they took the place which is prescribed to them in the order of nature.
To designate, in this confusion, each element in particular I used the most popular conventions.
The bass expresses the earth through notes linked together and which are played by jerks. The Flutes, by lines of song, which go up and down, imitate the course and the murmur of the water. The air is painted by outfits followed by cadences that form the small flutes. Finally, the violins, in lively and brilliant lines, represent the activity of fire.
These distinctive characters are recognized, separated or confused, in whole or in part, in the various occasions, which I call by the name of Cahos and which mark the efforts which the Elemen make to get rid of each other. In the 7th cahos, these efforts decrease in proportion as the entire resourcefulness approaches.
This first idea took me further. I dared to undertake to join to the idea of ​​the confusion of the elements that of Harmony. I hazarded to hear first all the sounds mixed together or rather all the notes of the Octave united in a single sound. These notes then develop while going up in Unison in the progression which is natural for them, and, after a Dissonance, one hears the perfect chord.
I finally believed that this would make the Cahos of harmony even better, if by walking through the different Cahos on different strings, I could without shocking the ear, make the final tone indecisive, until he returned determined at the time of the final examination." - Jean-Féry Rebel

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[Nope_jpg]

>Looks at thumbnail
'Oh, some French Baroque music'
>Listens to the first few bars
'Oh, this isn't French Baroque.'
>Looks up Jean-Féry Rebel
'Oh, it IS French Baroque.

I'm only 40 seconds in and it's been an emotional rollercoaster already.

[robertorebel]

I just came to know he is my very far away grand grand grand father i did some research about my family and he was on the family tree i’m really blasting this on full volume now hope the neighbors dont mind if i replay it a couple of times🙏🏼

[Ivan_]

Okay, I wasn't expecting to find something like this.

[jean-feryrebel]

Nice to see my Masterpiece be played!
Those first chords... **Chef's kiss**

[JoshyG]

Needless to say, that opening chord was very shocking to hear (in a good way) :)

[Garrett_Rowland]

This would be incredible to hear in concert.

[AndromedaCripps]

Color me surprised and impressed in multiple ways!! How skillfully the different characters of the piece are married together!! And unlike me, I did not select movements but was captivated enough to sit through the whole thing on first click!

[FranzKaernBiederstedt]

Wow, why have I never heard of that composer and that incredibly exciting and refreshing composition? That's so unique and inventive! And a wonderful recording, too!

[TheOneAndOnlyZeno]

Thanks for the post. Definitely on my list of innovative works to transcribe to a modern typeset score at some point, so I can study it better.

[bobmusick]

I usually hate YouTube reconditions but this was recommended to me and I’m so glad I listened. So crazy and so intense I love love love it. I love that it’s the old style score too. A little hard to wrap my head around at times but printing was just such an art back then.

[syroyid]

It is a masterpiece that should be give more attention

[americanoboist]

What a discovery! So glad I found this.

[grazianomoretto]

The beginning sounds like music of 21 century

[sippakorn_p]

Do anyone have more pieces from baroque period or earlier that have it's quirkiness or sounded ahead of time like this?

[groovinhooves]

Rebel almost jumps the shark to Impressionism ❤

[N.I.R.A.T.I.A.S.]

Damn, this must have blown some 18th Century minds.

[farrelpermadi]

I've commented this piece in Thomas van Dun's channel, but other people uploading it again because probably Thomas van Dun's channel is having a problem I guess. But, I am grateful that you reuploaded this piece! :D

[engloute]

Heinrich Ignaz Bieber must have loved this shit. This is awesome!

[christophedevos]

Alfred Schnittke😉 And an exhilarating piece in general reminding of Rameau, CPE Bach, Händel and early Haydn.