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Lewis Ramondon, presumably a Frenchman, was at first a singer in the pre-Handelian Italian operas. He appeared in 'Arsinoe', 1705; in 'Camilla', 1706; and 'Pyrrhus and Demetrius', in 1709. He sometimes took Leveridge's parts in these operas but, at about 1711, he ceased to be a public singer and turned his talents to composition. He brought out the series called 'The Lady's Entertainment' in 1709, 1710, 1711 and 1738. He arranged for the harpsichord the song-tunes in 'Camilla' using, perhaps for the first time in music-notation for this instrument, a five instead of a six-line stave and giving as the reason 'that the lessons being placed on five lines renders them proper for a violin and a base'. His vocal compositions were in high favour and half a dozen or so may be seen in Walsh's 'Merry Musician, or a Cure for the Spleen', vol i., 1716; others are on the single song sheet of the period. A tune of his, 'All you that must take a leap in the dark', attained a degree of popularity by being sung by MacHeath in the 'Beggar's Opera'. It is probable that he died about 1720 as his name does not appear on any fresh work after that date; but biographical details regarding him are lacking. |