Many of the pieces recorded here derive their compelling verve and vivid appeal from the vibrant energy of various kinds of European and South American dance, styles that embody popular tastes and have, in adapted form, been integrated into the musical idiom of many composers throughout history. For instance, the Sarabande (Marais) and Badinerie (J.S. Bach) of the Baroque are juxtaposed with the Janissaries of Mozart’s Rondo alla turca. There is a waltz from the palmy days of 19th-century French salon music (Godard) and, last but not least, there are fascinating dances from Andalusia (Granados) and tango and habanera rhythms (Ravel, Pujol) that bring echoes of the New World back across the ocean to the conquistadors’ original homeland.