The Classical Legacy

By 1800, French music had evolved from Lully's Baroque magnificence through Rameau's theoretical sophistication to Revolutionary democratic ideals. Key developments included:

1. Opera as National Art: From Lully to Gluck, opera remained central 2. Theoretical Foundation: Rameau's harmonic theories influenced all Western music 3. Instrumental Colors: French emphasis on timbre and orchestration 4. Dance Integration: Choreographic elements permeated all genres 5. Revolutionary Transformation: Music's role in society fundamentally changed