Joseph-Nicolas-Pancrace Royer

Royer composing his opera Zaïde, by Jean-Marc Nattier. Private collection.

Joseph-Nicolas-Pancrace Royer (ca. 1705 – 11 January 1755) was a French composer and harpsichordist.

Born in Turin, Royer went to Paris in 1725, and in 1734 became maître de musique des enfants de France, responsible for the musical education of the children of the king, Louis XV. Together with the violinist Jean-Joseph Cassanéa de Mondonville, Royer directed the Concert Spirituel, starting in 1748. Royer was at the Paris Opéra during the 1730s and the 1750s, writing six operas himself, of which the best known is the ballet-héroïque Zaïde, reine de Grenade. In 1753 he acquired the prestigious position of music director of the chambre du roi (the king's chamber), and in the same year was named director of the Royal Opera orchestra. He died in Paris.

Works

Royer is particularly known for his often extravagant and virtuosic harpsichord music, especially "La Marche des Scythes," which ends his first book of harpsichord pieces.

Operas

TitleGenreSub­divisionsLibrettoPremière datePlace, theatre
Le fâcheux veuvage (contributions)opéra comique3 actsAlexis Piron September 1725Paris, Foire St Laurent
Crédit est mort (contributions)opéra comique1 actAlexis PironFebruary 1726Paris, Foire St Germain
Pyrrhustragédie lyriqueprologue and 5 acts Fermelhuis26 October 1730Paris, Académie Royale de Musique
Zaïde, reine de Grenadeballet héroïqueprologue and 3 actsAbbé de La Marre5 September 1739Paris, Opéra
Le pouvoir de l'Amourballet héroïqueprologue and 3 actsC-H Le Febvre de Saint-Marc23 April 1743Paris, Académie Royale de Musique
Prométhée et Pandoretragédie5 actsVoltairecomposed 1744-54, private rehearsal 5 October 1752Paris
Almasisacte de ballet1 actFrançois-Augustin de Paradis de Moncrif26 February 1748Versailles
Myrtil et Zéliepastorale-héroïqueprologue and 1 act20 June 1750Versailles

Other works

  • 1746: Premiere livre de pièces pour clavecin (1746)
  1. La majestuese: courante
  2. La Zäide: rondeau (Tendrement)
  3. Les matelots: (modérément)
    Frontpage to Ode à la fortune, 1747
  4. Premier et deuxième tambourins
  5. L'incertaine: (marque)
  6. L'aimable: (gracieux)
  7. La bagatelle
  8. Suite de la bagatelle
  9. La remouleuse: rondeau (modérément)
  10. Les tendre Sentiments: rondeau
  11. Le vertigo: rondeau (modérément)
  12. Allemande
  13. La sensible: rondeau
  14. La marche des Scythes: fièrement
  15. La chasse de Zäide (1739)
  • 1746: Ode à la fortune, text by Jean-Baptiste Rousseau, (first performance 25 December 1746, Concert spirituel)
  • 1751: Venite exultemus, motet (first performance 18 December 1751, Concert spirituel)

Recordings

  • Complete Harpsichord Music - Yago Mahugo (harpsichord), OnClassical (OC67B) licensed for Brilliant Classics (BC 94479), 2013
  • Pieces de Clavecin - William Christie (harpsichord), Harmonia Mundi France (HM1901037), rec. 1979, CD-release 1992 (out of print)
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