This playlist explores the jewels of French Baroque music, from well-known names such as Rameau and Lully, to rarely-heard gems by lesser known composers. It provides glimpses into the elegant and graceful world of 17th Century Paris.

The selection of tracks delves into the sound worlds of unusual instruments which were popular in France at the time. Hear the enchanting sound of the Pardessus de Viol - the Woman's violin and the highest member of the viol family in music by Jean Barrière, Louis de Caix d'Hervelois and others. Explore the charming sound of the musette - raised to 'high art' status by King Louis XIV - in a recording by Baroque in the North of music by Hotteterre and Chédeville.

Listen below or on Continuo Connect's Spotify playlist.

M.A Charpentier: Acteon, H.481, Scene I: 'Allons, marchons, courons'

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

Jean Barrière: Sonate IV en sol majeur: I. Adagio

Mélisande Corriveau, Eric Milnes

François Couperin: Concerts Royaux, Deuxieme Concert in D Major: IV. Air contrefugué

Ensemble Molière

Jean Baptiste Lully: Psyché, LWV 56, Prélude pour les trompettes

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

Georg Philipp Telemann: Sonata à 4 in A Major, TWV 43:A1: III. Andante

Florilegium

Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre: Cantates Français, Deuxième cantate: "L'isle de Delos": Symphonie

Ensemble des Idées heureuses, Geneviève Soly

M.A Charpentier: Acteon, H.481, Scene V: Jamais troupe de chasseurs

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

M.R Delalande: Symphonies pour les Soupers du Roy, Première Suite (arr. for ensemble by Satoko Doi-Luck)

Ensemble Molière

Louis de Caix d'Hervelois: Suite en ré mineur: III. La Légèreté

Mélisande Corriveau, Eric Milnes

J.S Bach: French Suite No.1 in D Minor, BWV 812: II. Courante

Richard Egarr

Anonymous: Ballet Royal de la nuit (Arr. for ensemble by Sakoto Doi-Luck): I. Overture

Ensemble Molière

Jean-Philippe Rameau: Pygmalion, RT 52: Act I: Tambourin (fort et vite)

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie, Howard Crook

Charles Dollé: Pièce tirée de l'œuvre Ive: Les Regrets. Affecteusement

Mélisande Corriveau, Eric Milnes

Jean Baur: Cello Sonata in G Minor, Op.1 No.4: IV. Allegro

Elinor Frey, Antoine Malette-Chénier, Octavie Dostaler-Lalonde, Mélisande Mcabney

Jean de Cambefort: Ballet Royal de la Nuit: Récit de la Nuit: "Languissante clarté, cachez-vous dessous l'onde"

Ensemble Molière

Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre: Trio Sonata No.1 in G Minor: VIII. Becarre Allegro. Bemol

Infusion Baroque

Marin Marais: Pièces en Trio: "Trios pour le coucher du Roy", Suite in G Minor: III Sarabande I

Ensemble Molière

Jean Hotteterre: Pièces pour la Muzette: I. Marche des Bergers

Amanda Babington, Claire Babington, David J. Smith

Georg Philipp Telemann: Sonata à 4 in G Minor, TWV 43: g1: II. Allegro

Florilegium

Joseph Bodin de Boismoitier: Deuxième sonate en sol mineur: IV. Gigue

Mélisande Corriveau, Eric Milnes

J.S Bach: French Suite No.5 in G Major, BWV 816: V. Bourée

Richard Egarr

Jacques Hotteterre: Suite in D Major, Op.5 No.3: V. Gigue

Camerata Köln, Michael Schneider

Jean Baur: Cello Sonata in Bb Major, Op.2 No.2, "La Dupleïx": II. Adagio Amoroso

Elinor Frey, Octavie Dostaler-Lalonde, Mélisande Mcabney

Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre: Violin Sonata No.1 in D Minor: I. Adagio

Lina Tur Bonet, Patxi Montero, Kenneth Weiss

Nicolas Chédeville: Les Deffis: I. L'Italienne

Amanda Babington, Claire Babington, David J. Smith