The two volumes both contain, though in a slightly different order, the same fifty-nine pieces for bass viol by Marin Marais. Thirty-three of the pieces appear in the first two books of ‘Pièces à une et à deux violes’ (1686 and 1701), and one piece is in the third book of 1711. The remainder are otherwise unknown.

These volumes have both been carefully compiled. The principal difference between them is that MS.9466, in addition to the editorial marking common to both, also has directions for bowing. For further consideration of the musical aspects of these volumes, see 'Marin Marais, The instrumental works’, volume ii, Appendix III.