Copy of New Collection of Dances

New Collection of Dances

Nouveau Recüeil de Dances

Reviving yearly collections of dances

In this ambitious project Mercurius Company proposes to revive the 18th-century tradition of publishing yearly collections of dances, whilst engaging both outstanding and emerging choreographers by publishing their notated choreographies in Beauchamps-Feuillet system. The publication shall provide professional and amateur Baroque dancers today with so-needed new material, and offer a glimpse of each choreographer's creative style, their approach, their interpretation and/or reworking of Baroque aesthetics.

Above all, this initiative will ensure the corpus of precious contemporary 'Baroque' choreographic creations will be preserved for generations to come!

Volume I: RESTORATION THEATRE

The launching volume (2020) will contain 16 choreographies by Ricardo Barros, set to music by Purcell and Locke for the Restoration stage. The dances vary from solos to groups of 6 dancers:

MATTHEW LOCKE

The Tempest (1667): Courante (a 2), Sarabande (a 2), Galliard (a 2)

HENRY PURCELL

Circe (1690): Magicians Dance (a 2)

Dioclesian (1690): Menuet (a 2), Menuet (a 4), Menuet (a 6), Two in One upon a Ground (a 4),

Dance of Bacchanals (a 6), Sarabande (solo)

King Arthur (1691): Hornpipe (a2), Bouree (a 2)

Old Bachelor (1693): Hornpipe (a 2)

Abdelazer (1695): Hornpipe (a 2), Jig (solo)

Indian Queen (1695): Gavotte 'Spirits of the Air' (a 4)

The book will be in A4 format, 124 pages, paperback, printed in quality 120gsm textured paper, containing choreographer's notes and indications for performance. First edition: 300 copies. Price: £28 +pp.

Postage costs:

- Royal Mail tracked and insured: UK £4.25, EU £10.20, other locations £14.40

- Royal Mail 2nd class, no tracking: UK £2.95, EU £6.10, other locations £10.90

At a later date a booklet of scores and parts (edited in modern print) as well as music recordings (solo harpsichord reductions) will be made available for digital purchase and download.

Plans for a second volume (2021) include choreographies by 16 choreographers.

INVITATION TO SUBSCRIBERS!

This publication project is a private venture, without external funding. In order for the book to go for print, we are inviting those wishing to purchase the collection to SUBSCRIBE to it. You may do so by filling the form below.

A minimum of fifty subscribers is needed for the project to go ahead. You shall be notified and invoiced accordingly when publication is ready to go for print.

Subscribers shall have their names displayed in the 'list of subscribers' (to be displayed in the book), and receive their copy(ies) of the book signed by the choreographer. They shall also receive, at a later date, a free download of the score booklet and mp3 sound tracks (otherwise charged separately to the general public).

They will also be notified in advance about the release of future volumes, to which they will have priority in purchasing.