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
FacheuxLe fâcheux veuvage (contributions) opéra comique 3 acts PironAlexis Piron 1725-09-00 September 1725 Paris, Foire St Laurent
Crédit est mort (contributions) opéra comique 1 act PironAlexis Piron 1726-02-00February 1726 Paris, Foire St Germain
Pyrrhus tragédie lyrique 5.1prologue and 5 acts Fermelhuis Fermelhuis 1730-10-2626 October 1730 Paris, Académie Royale de Musique
Zaïde, reine de Grenade ballet héroïque 3.1prologue and 3 acts La MarreAbbé de La Marre 1739-09-055 September 1739 Paris, Opéra
PouvoirLe pouvoir de l'Amour ballet héroïque 3.1prologue and 3 acts Saint-MarcC-H Le Febvre de Saint-Marc 1743-04-2323 April 1743 Paris, Académie Royale de Musique
Prométhée et Pandore tragédie 5 acts Voltaire 1752-10-05composed 1744-54, private rehearsal 5 October 1752Paris
Almasis acte de ballet 1 act MoncrifFrançois-Augustin de Paradis de Moncrif 1748-02-2626 February 1748 Versailles
Myrtil et Zélie pastorale-héroïque 1.1prologue and 1 act 1750-06-2020 June 1750 Versailles

Other works

  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)

Recordings

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