Five Old French Dances: Conductor Score & Parts

These five dances showcase what made Marais essential to Baroque training: clear structural forms that reward stylistic awareness, melodic lines that sit naturally under the fingers, and the kind of refined character work that teaches students how articulation and tempo shape musical personality. Pairing them with piano keeps the focus on the violinist while providing harmonic grounding that helps young players hear where they sit in the texture.

These dances radiate the polish and elegance of the French court. Each movement has its own character: some are graceful and flowing, others more ceremonial or lively. Together they create a small world of Baroque refinement where attention to articulation, tone, and phrasing transforms simple melodic lines into something genuinely expressive.

Advanced beginner to early intermediate violinists ready to engage with Baroque phrasing and style. Teachers seeking a suite of contrasting pieces that fit naturally into a solo recital or that work well for building interpretive maturity without requiring virtuosic technique.

• Pay close attention to the natural phrasing in each dance. Marais composed these to breathe, so find where the phrases begin and end rather than pushing straight through bar lines.
• Tailor your ornamentation choices to match the style of each individual dance. What works for a Minuet may not suit a Courante, so listen closely to the character of each movement.
• Work with your pianist to lock the harmonic rhythm early in rehearsal. Once the accompaniment sits solidly, you can focus on bringing out the melodic contour without pushing the tempo.

Build a short Baroque suite by programming all five dances back-to-back as a single work, or select contrasting movements for different recitals across a season. They pair naturally with other Baroque solos and provide an excellent stepping stone between unaccompanied Bach and more elaborate Baroque concertos.

• Baroque phrasing and breathing in period dances
• French Baroque ornamentation and stylistic articulation
• Rhythmic precision in binary forms (Minuet, Courante, Gigue)
• Ensemble listening and balance with piano accompaniment
• Interpretation of character and tempo nuance within formal constraints