Isis: a study in Lullys French style

Abstract

This study examines Lully's fifth tragedie lyrique Isis (1677), and shows its placement within the composer's operatic oeuvre; it assesses the importance of the opera in the development of a genre that for nearly a century would remain essentially unchanged. The study begins with an examination of aspects of Lully's first five tragedies Cadmus et Hermione (1673), Alceste (1674), Thesee (1675), Atys (1676) and Isis (1677)--citing those literary and musical features that gave the tragedie lyrique its unique qualities. Chapter III deals with three contemporary scores of Isis, the set of ten part books (Lully's first published music) printed under the composer's supervision in 1677, the first printed full score, published nearly fifty years later, and an undated full score manuscript, probably copied about 1690; they show how remarkably little his works were changed from generation to generation. The final section of this study is an examination of Lully's musical style, those features and qualities that comprise Lully's Isis.