David Buch"s informative volume is the first modern study, edition, and commentary dealing with almost all of the surviving French five-part scores of dance music from the ballets de cour, 1575-1651. These full scores are especiall y important since most ballets from this time are preserved only in two-part readings (melody and bass). The exception here is a newly-created five-part score for the Ballet des Nations based on an original two-part setting. Also included are the six Allemandes from 1575 to ca. 1600, a Ballet à cheval of 1615, a selection of miscellaneous Entrées from several ballets prepared for the Concert à Louis XIII par les Viollons et lest 12 Grands hautbois of 1627, and Philidor"s five-part reading of seventeen Entrées from the Ballet du Roy des Festes de Baccus of 1651.