I've been listening to a wonderful album, a gift from a friend. It's Rameau's "Une Symphonie Imaginaire". Lovely music, with my particular favorite being the tract, "Les Boreades - Entree des Polymnie". It's serene, and I find myself close to tears at parts of it. 
I wanted to know a bit more about the composer, and the work. Jean Philippe Rameau (at right) was one of the most important French composers, yet little is known of his early years. He was born in 1683 and lived until 1764. He won fame in 1720, for his Treatise on Harmony. He later embarked on a career of operatic writing. He was embraced, and later attacked for being "establishment" by those who preferred the Italian operatic sound. His music fell out of favor in the 18th Century, and only came once again to the fore in the 20th Century, where there is now a renewed appreciation. 
I looked into the Entree des Polymnie, and not knowing what the Polymnie was, I was surprised and delighted to see that it is not a thing, but a person, a female, a muse! Polymnie is one of the artistic muses, for sacred poetry, as a matter of fact, from Greek mythology. She is depicted as serious, pensive, meditative. The music also has that quality. Give it a listen sometime. The exchange, or dialog, between strings and horns is so moving, heart-wrenching. You won't be disappointed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V8O8W30sH4
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