This catalogue investigates the complete musical output of Michel-Richard de Lalande to provide a definitive bibliographic and thematic framework for his compositions. Lionel Sawkins, a recognized authority on French Baroque music, utilizes decades of archival research to organize Lalande's extensive body of work. The text serves as a comprehensive reference tool, documenting the stylistic evolution and structural characteristics of the composer's contributions to the courts of Louis XIV and Louis XV.

Musicologists and performers regard this work as the foundational reference for the study of Lalande's repertoire. Experts highlight the meticulous detail and the accessibility of the thematic locators as essential for scholarly research and performance preparation.