French music in the 18th century occupies a privileged place in all strata of society. It permitted the weaving of links, through concerts, theatrical spectacle and religious services, but also and above all through a highly developed amateur practice, on a daily basis. It is this endearing and infinitely varied presence of music in the various societies of the 18th century that we have tried to show in this book. Such musical consumption allowed the emergence of a large and flourishing art market, which exerted a strong power of attraction on European musicians. Paris, the capital of music, offered these artists from abroad concerts galore, the possibility of being published, of giving lessons... Such effervescence obviously encouraged the most daring avant-gardes.

Comparative studies by art historians, literature and musicologists, produced with the help of Carole Blumenfeld, Pierre Saby, Jean Duron, Jean Gribenski, Benoît Dratwicki and Jack Eby.

The book contains 20 illustrations, 11 of which are in colour.