Rampai, Jean-Pierre (Louis)

Rampai, Jean-Pierre (Louis ), celebrated French flutist, conductor, and teacher; b. Marseilles, Jan. 7, 1922; d. Paris, May 20, 2000. He studied flute as a child with his father, first flutist in the Marseilles Orch. and a prof. at the Cons., then studied medicine until being drafted for military service by the German occupation authorities in 1943. When he learned that he was to be sent to Germany as a forced laborer, he went AWOL, and subsequently attended flute classes at the Paris Cons., winning the premier prix in 5 months. He played solo flute in the Orch. of the Vichy Opera (1946–50); concurrently began to tour, often in duo recitals with the pianist and harpsichordist Robert Veyron-Lacroix. He was solo flutist in the Orch. of the Paris Opéra from 1956 to 1962, and also became a popular artist on the Paris Radio. He subsequently toured throughout the world with phenomenal success as a virtuoso, appearing as soloist with all the major Orch.s. and in innumerable recitals. In later years, he also appeared as a guest conductor. He taught at the Paris Cons., and gave master classes worldwide. His repertoire was vast, ranging from the Baroque masters to jazz, from the music of Japan to that of India, from arrangements to specially commissioned Works. Of the last, such composers as Poulenc and Jolivet wrote pieces for him. Through his countless concerts and recordings, he did more than any other flutist of his time to bring his instrument into the mainstream of musical life. He was made a Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur in 1966 and an Officier des Arts et Lettres in 1971. With D. Wise, he publ. Music, My Love: An Autobiography (N.Y., 1989).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire