Dancing with the Sun King

Louis XIV (1638-1715) was the personal embodiment of France and he loved to dance. The king himself was a fine dancer and had many opportunities to demonstrate his skill at the multiple dance balls given at Versailles. Michel Pignolet de Montéclair's "Sérénade en Concerts" is a collection of dances probably written for one such occasion. The collection is exceptional because it contains all the music that was performed in one evening, divided into three parts: airs de fanfares, airs tendres, and airs champêtres. When Jean-Féry Rebel, one of the violin players of the Vingt-quatre violons, wrote "Les caractères de la danse", he launched a new fashion: the piece was written for a solo female dancer who performed a rapid succession of different dances, completely changing character every few bars. The piece achieved great popularity.

FREE Standard Shipping on qualifying orders over $25. Shipping restrictions and exclusions apply. View our Shipping Policy for details.

Eligible items may be returned within 30 days of receiving your order. Return conditions and exclusions apply. View our Return Policy for details.