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 Mont�clair's 'S�r�nade 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 champ�tres'. When Jean-F�ry Rebel, one of the violin players of the Vingt-quatre violons, wrote 'Les caract�res 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.
1) I. Marché Des Bergers ()
2) II. Branle ()
3) III. Gavotte ()
4) IV. Pastourelles I & II ()
5) V. Pantalonade En Rondeau ()
6) VI. Chalumeaux Rondeau ()
7) VII. Danse De Village ()
8) VIII. Passe-pied ()
9) Caprice ()
10) I. Sommeil ()
11) II. Sarabande ()
12) III. Gavotte ()
13) IV. Sarabande ()
14) V. Sommeil ()
15) Boutade ()
16) I. Ouverture ()
17) II. Trompettes ()
18) III. Fantaisie ()
19) IV. Passe-pieds I & II ()
20) V. Courantes I & II ()
21) VI. Rigaudons I & II ()
22) VII. Menuets I & II ()
23) Les Caractères De La Danse ()