is a seminal scholarly study by Meredith Little and Natalie Jenne that explores the deep connection between Baroque dance and the music of Johann Sebastian Bach . Originally published in 1991 and later released in an expanded edition, the book serves as a vital resource for performers and scholars seeking to understand the rhythmic structures, social contexts, and interpretative nuances of Bach’s dance-based repertoire. Core Themes and Structure
The book is divided into two primary parts that bridge the gap between historical dance practice and musical performance: Dance and the Music of J. S. Bach
: Little and Jenne describe the French dance practices prominent in the cities and courts where Bach lived and worked. They argue that while Bach lived in Germany, the highly disciplined, refined style of the French Court (pioneered under Louis XIV) was the dominant cultural influence on his stylized dance music. is a seminal scholarly study by Meredith Little
: The authors provide a detailed analysis of individual dance types used by Bach, including the Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Gigue, Minuet, Gavotte, and Passepied . For each form, they develop a "model" based on period choreographies, theoretical writings, and comparative studies of other 17th- and 18th-century composers. Key Musical Insights Dance and the Music of J. S. Bach: Expanded Edition They argue that while Bach lived in Germany,
