Les Indes Galantes (French: "The Amorous Indies") is an opera by Jean-Philippe Rameau with a libretto by Louis Fuzelier. It takes the form of an op�ra-ballet with a prologue and (in its final form) four entr�es (acts). Following an allegorical prologue, the four entr�es have distinct and separate plots, but are unified by the theme of love in exotic places (The Ottoman Empire, Peru, Persia, and North America). The most famous pieces from the work, Danse des Sauvages and the final Chaconne, come from the final entr�e (Les sauvages).

The premiere, including only the prologue and the first two of its four entr�es (acts), was staged by the Acad�mie Royale de Musique at itstheatre in the Palais-Royal in Paris on 23 August 1735, starring the leading singers of the Op�ra, Marie Antier, Marie P�lissier, Mlle Err�mans, Mlle Petitpas, Denis-Fran�ois Tribou, Pierre J�lyotte, and Claude-Louis-Dominique Chass� de Chinais, and the dancers Marie Sall� and Louis Dupr�. Michel Blondy provided the choreography. The ballet's Premier Menuet was used in the soundtrack of the 2006 film Marie Antoinette.

The Sauvages: The stage shows a grove in a forest in America, on the borders of the French and Spanish colonies, where the ceremony of the Peace Pipe is about to be celebrated

Adario, a Native American, is in love with Zima, daughter of a native chief, but he fears the rivalry of the Spaniard Don Alvar and the Frenchman Damon (Air: Rivaux des mes exploits, rivaux des mes amours). The Europeans plead with Zima for her love, but she says Damon is too fickle and Alvar is too jealous; she prefers the natural love shown by Adario (Air: Sur nos bords l'amour vole) and the couple vow to marry (Duet: Hymen, viens nous unir d'une cha�ne �ternelle). The act ends with the Europeans joining the natives in the ceremony of peace (Chorus: For�ts paisibles).

Taken fromhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Indes_galantes

Simon Mayor presents five short string quartets on themes by Turlough O?Carolan.
Also suitable for mandolin family instruments.

Turlough O?Carolan is one of Ireland?s most celebrated baroque composers, responsible for some of the strongest and grandest melodies to come out of his homeland. He was a great friend of his Italian contemporary Corelli, who spent some time in Dublin and had a significant influence on O?Carolan?s music. But traditional music was an influence too, and, stylistically, his compositions occupy a fascinating middle ground between these two genres.

Contents: Carlan?s Frolics, Hewlett, Lord Brabazon, Princess Royal, Lord Inchiquin.

The audio sample here, part of Princess Royal, is of an impromptu 'read off' by seven string players, so most lines have two instruments. It's only an extract, but gives a flavour of the music.

Carson Turner&rsquo.s latest instalment to The Schott String Quartet Series is a wonderful collection of traditional Irish folk tunes. These intermediate-level arrangements make perfect performance material.

The Schott String Quartet Series
With the first books in the series focusing on baroque, classical and romantic styles, The Schott String Quartet Series has expanded to cover music ranging from traditional pieces through to Eastern-influenced works. Aside from 'Indian Summer', which features original compositions, each book contains original arrangements of well known themes, which have often never been arranged for string quartet before. .
An important characteristic of these arrangements is that they allow all four instruments to demand the attention throughout the music. The pieces are suitable for amateur musicians or school students and are ideal for public performance.