The melodic excitement, verve and stimulating rhythms in Praetorius's music portray the 'Spirit of The Dance' during the 16th and 17th Centuries. It inspired rejoicing, jollity, and energy. Michael Praetorius was oneof a number of 16th and 17th century German musicians to use the latini sed form of his name; his real name was Michael Schultz. He was a prolific composer and was much in demand by the nobility of the period to compose for dancing at the courts of Dukes. Terpsichore is the name of the Greek Muse of Dancing and Praetorius used this name as the title of his French Dances commissioned by the Duke of Brunswick and Lueneburg. Some of the tunes were obtained from the French Dance Masters and musicians who were in service at the court of the Duke to instruct students in the art of dancing. Other tunes he composed.
