35. [CHABANON (Michel Paul Gui de). Observations sur la musi - Lot 35

35. [CHABANON (Michel Paul Gui de). Observations sur la musique et principalement sur la métaphysique de l'art. Paris, Pissot, 1779 (bound in suite:) COQUEAU (Claude-Philibert). Entretiens sur l'état actuel de l'Opéra de Paris. Amsterdam (Paris, Esprit), 1779. In-8, xx, 215 p., vi, 174 p., fawn half-basane, smooth spine with t.d.p. Two important yet uncommon works for music, with a third opus by Claude-Philibert Coquéau (1755-1794), 48 pages uncropped, interspersed: Suite des Entretiens sur l'état actuel de l'Opéra de Paris, ou Lettres à M. S , no place or date, probably around 1779. Note also that the first work by Michel Paul Guy de Chabanon (1730-1792) seems to call for a second part, which never appeared. Both of these authors were trying to shake up conservative musical lines: the first by arguing against the idea that music should necessarily imitate nature or have a descriptive function, and the second by criticizing Gluck and his artifice of building success on rather weak musical compositions. Bindings rubbed, covers worn, corners dulled, some foxing, marginal exergues in pencil, other defects minor. (Fétis, II, 244 & 356).