Despite the generic title, this is a dance suite for piano, vaguely inspired (at least in its two inner movements) by Baroque suites. But this is by no means an homage to the early clavecinists. If anything, Prokofiev mocks their work, by borrowing their forms and completely altering their character into something slightly comical and slightly sinister.

The first movement it titled simply Dance, and evokes one of Debussy's more hard-edged Preludes. There's something implacable, almost march-like about this ABA-form dance, which moves with insolent gestures. Minuet, too, features an insistent and rather graceless bass line, and again calls Debussy to mind-Debussy in his humorous mode, as in General Lavine, Eccentric. The Gavotte, one of Prokofiev's favorite archaic forms, is yet another movement with a relentless ostinato accompaniment for an angular melody. Relief comes in the concluding Waltz, which is hardly danceable and, perversely, lacks a clearly defined 3/4 beat. Here, Prokofiev's left-hand work is more subtle, but its low-lying commentary contrasts interestingly with the much higher, gently sparkling right-hand material.



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