
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.