First published in 1974, this landmark work quickly established itself as the definitive study of French music from 1581 to 1733, a period that included masters such as Marin Marais, Lully, Couperin, and Rameau. This expanded edition includes a bibliography of more than 1,300 works.

Tartuffe, a 1664 verse comedy concerning a scoundrel who impersonates a holy man, and The Bourgeois Gentleman, a 1670 prose farce about the superficial characteristics of Parisian nobility. Original French, English on facing pages.

During the course of the 17th century, the dramatic arts reached a pinnacle of development in France; but despite the volumes devoted to the literature and theatre of the ancien régime, historians have largely neglected the importance of music and dance. This study defines the musical practices of comedy, tragicomedy, tragedy, and mythological and non-mythological pastoral drama, from the arrival of the first repertory companies in Paris until the establishment of the Comédie-Française.

Sharpen your French language skills through readings about its speakers' daily lives and culture Better Reading French offers you entertaining, "real world" texts to help you understand and learn more French vocabulary and phrases. Each chapter features articles that cover a specific topic, such as cuisine, music, sports, film and theater, art, the family, today's lifestyle, or politics and history. Along the way, you will find instruction and exercises to help develop improved reading speed, comprehension, and vocabulary. The articles become gradually more difficult as you proceed through the book to keep you challenged and engaged. Better Reading French is an easy, engaging way to boost your language skills and learn more about the language and its speakers as you go.