May 21, 2000

   Jean-Pierre Rampal, 78, Virtuoso Flutist
   By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

   PARIS, May 20 -- Jean-Pierre Rampal, who popularized the flute as a
   solo instrument and became one of classical music's brightest stars,
   died today in Paris.  He was 78.  The cause was a heart attack.

   One of the most recorded classical musicians in history, he was
   best-known for his love of Baroque music, though he played everything
   from jazz to Indian music to English folk songs, said Sony Classical,
   his record label.  Mr. Rampal's trademark was his gold flute, with
   which he never parted.

   The French president, Jacques Chirac, said in a statement that Mr.
   Rampal's flute "spoke to the heart."

   Mr. Rampal was born on Jan. 7, 1922, in the southern port city of
   Marseille, the son of a flute teacher who did not encourage his son
   to become a professional musician. His early interest was medicine.

   He became serious about music during World War II, after Nazi occupying
   forces in France drafted him for labor in Germany. He left medical
   school and went underground in Paris, where he studied at the National
   Conservatory and attracted the attention of the Paris musical community.

   When Mr. Rampal began his career, the flute was often overlooked as
   a solo instrument, with audiences preferring more traditional solo
   works for piano and violin. During his decades-long career, Mr. Rampal
   helped propel the flute back into the spotlight.

   He said he believed his career began at an auspicious time, as
   Europeans turned away from heroic music after the war. "With all this
   bad mess we had in Europe during the war," he said, "people were
   looking for something quieter, more structured, more well balanced
   than Romantic music. This is why Baroque music was so successful
   after the war."

   After the war ended, he became principal flutist in the Paris Opera's
   orchestra.

   He was much loved in North America, where he performed recital tours
   annually and topped Billboard charts.

   Mr. Rampal also gained recognition as a conductor.

   He is survived by his wife, Francoise; two children, Isabelle and
   Jean-Jacques; and five grandchildren.

Dave
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