The Operas of Jean Baptise Lully.

This study of Lully's operas falls into three parts; biographical, analytical, and descriptive. Part One opens with a brief biographical sketch, concentrating on those aspects of Lully's life which are most relevant to his career as an opera composer. Lully's concept of drama is then discussed - this chapter deals in particular with the libretti, and the extent to which Lully was influenced by the structure and language offered him in the works of Philippe Quinault. Lully's establishment of the Academie Royale de Musique is the subject of the third chapter. In Part Two I have first attempted to analyse Lully's style. Subsequent chapters deal in detail with both the form and function in the operas of the instrumental music, recitative, aria, the ensemble and the chorus. Part Three contains a list of sources for each opera - printed scores, manuscript copies, libretti and cast lists - and a critical resume of the action of each opera. There are five appendices which are intended to clarify aspects of the source material