This catalogue serves as the definitive scholarly resource for identifying, dating, and contextualizing the complete musical output of Michel-Richard de Lalande. Lionel Sawkins, a recognized authority on French Baroque music, synthesizes decades of archival research to provide a rigorous framework for understanding the composer's contributions to the courts of Louis XIV and Louis XV. By documenting over 3,000 musical examples and exhaustive source materials, the text establishes a standardized methodology for the study and performance of Lalande's orchestral motets and instrumental works.

Musicologists and performers regard this volume as the foundational reference for the study of Lalande's oeuvre. Experts frequently note the extreme density and precision of the research, which makes it an indispensable tool for academic libraries and professional music historians.