Rousseau's critique of French tragédie lyrique asserted that it was what?

• A. Naturally musical and well-textured
• B. Elegant and natural in text-setting
• C. Devoid of naturalness, ugly in harmony, ungainly in text-setting
• D. Innovative but flawed in vocal writing

Answer: (C)

Rousseau’s critique centers on natural expression in music and drama. He argued that French tragédie lyrique sacrificed naturalness for polish and ceremony, making the music feel artificial and overly refined. He contended that the harmony often sounded ugly because it prioritized form over expressive truth, and that the way the text was set to music was ungainly, forcing syllables and phrasing to fit rigid musical structures rather than the natural rhythms of speech. In his view, the genre relied too much on spectacle and ornate decoration, at the expense of authentic dramatic and vocal communication. Therefore, the description that matches his view is that it was devoid of naturalness, ugly in harmony, and ungainly in text-setting.