Written for a Paris Conservatoire contest, Ancient Suite is a piece in five parts for Percussion and Piano and was composed by Maurice Jarre.

All sections of this suite use different percussions:
1. Toccata  for 4 Timpanies
2. Sarabande  for Vibraphone, Chimes, Glockenspiel
3. Guigue  for Snare Drums, Tambourine, Triangle, Castanets
4. Courant  for Xylophone
5. Rigaudon  for Drums Solo

Maurice Jarre (1924-2009) was a French composer who wrote much film music, some concert pieces and some ballets. Among the most famous pieces he composed were for Lawrence of Arabia, Dead Poets Society and I Dreamed of Africa.