Suite (music) These optional movements were known as "galanteries": common examples are the minuet, gavotte, passepied, and bourrée. Often there would be two contrasting "galanteries" with the same name, e.g. Minuet I and II, to be played "alternativement", meaning that the first dance is played again after the second, thus I, II, I. The later addition of an overture to make up an "overture-suite" was extremely popular with German composers; Telemann claimed to have written over 200 overture-suites, J. S. Bach had his four orchestral suites along with other suites, and Handel put his "Water Music" and "Music for the Royal Fireworks"
Baroque music of the British Isles Baroque music of the British Isles Baroque music of the British Isles bridged the gap between the early music of the Medieval and Renaissance periods and the development of fully fledged and formalised orchestral classical music in the second half of the eighteenth century. It was characterised by more elaborate musical ornamentation, changes in musical notation, new instrumental playing techniques and the rise of new genres such as opera. Although the term Baroque is conventionally used for European music from about 1600, its full effects were not felt in Britain until after 1660, delayed by native trends and developments in