Capriol Suite

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The Capriol Suite is a set of dances composed in October 1926 by Peter Warlock. According to the composer, it was based on tunes in Thoinot Arbeau's Orchésographie, a manual of Renaissance dances. Nevertheless, Warlock's biographer, Cecil Gray, said that "if one compares these tunes with what the composer has made of them it will be seen that to all intents and purposes it can be regarded as an original work."

The suite is considered one of Warlock's most popular works. Originally written for piano duet, he later scored it for both string and full orchestras. It consists of six movements: Basse Danse, Pavane, Tordion, Bransles, Pieds en l'air, and Mattachins.

According to the Peter Warlock Society, Warlock was born Philip Heseltine at the Savoy Hotel in London October 30, 1894. He wrote articles and music criticism under his given name and his music under the name Warlock. He died of gas poisoning at his flat in 1930. The coroner left open the verdict of whether it was accidental or a suicide.