The missing inner parts have been restored in this interesting collection, of which only the outer parts survive.
D’Estrees was a shawm player in the court band in Paris.
Jean d’Estrées published four books of dances in 1559 and 1564, which have unfortunately survived in an incomplete form. The first three books, all issued by Nicholas Chemin in 1559, have come down only with the superius and bassus parts, while the fourth book has fared even less well, with only an incomplete bassus surviving. However, as Pierre Phalèse, the notorious pirate of Leuven, included many pieces from d’Estrées’ four books in his two dance collections of 1571 and 1581 we are able to supply the original missing parts for a proportion of the pieces, and we have useful models for the missing parts of the remainder. In the present series we are publishing d’Estrées’ first three books complete, with the missing parts restored, and the items from the fourth book that were pirated by Phalèse appear as an appendix to the present volume. The remainder of the material in the fourth book is going to have to wait for the emergence of a spiritualist medium specialising in very minor forms of music.
“TIERS LIVRE DE DANSERIES“
The title-page of d’Estrées’ first book runs as follows: TIERS LIVRE DE DANSERIES / Contenant / 5 Bransles de Malthe, 1 Le pas meige, 1 Padovenne, 4 Tintelores, 1 Les Bouffons, 10 Allemandes, 1 Bransle de la torche, 1 Bransle de Montirandé, 3 Ballets du Canat, 1 La volte de Provence, 3 Pavanes, à4, & à 6, 8 Gaillardes à 4, & à 5, 5 Basse danses, 1 Hauberrois. Le tout mis en Musique a quatre parties (appropriés tant a voix humains, / que pour jouer sur tous instruments musicalz) Par Jean d’Estrée, / joueur de Hautbois du Roy / De l’imprimerie de Nicolas du Chemin, à l’enseigne du Griffon / d’argent, rue Saint Jean de latran, à Paris / 1559/ Avec privilege du Roy pour dix ans.
Also see Premier Livre de Danseries (DM7↣ )
