This volume of the Suites des Fêtes d'Hébé, arranged in 5 parts, is taken from copies of scores made around 1755 for the Comte d'Artois, now kept at the Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal.
This arrangement was made with a certain taste and satisfactory care, which justifies its being published today. The pieces, never transposed, are grouped in suites of the same key, major or minor, in accordance with tradition. The separate parts allude to at least two violins, two oboes or flutes, a quintet, bassoons and basses, i.e. around two instruments per section ("partie"), for a total of around ten players. Excluding tailles de violon, trumpets, timpani and harpsichord, Rameau’s overtures and dances can be performed by the anonymous arranger at a very low cost, then as now; as most of the pieces are arranged for three parts, they can even be performed by a string trio.