Composer

:

Claude-Bénigne Balbastre

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Keyboard

Average_duration

:

2:11

Claude-Bénigne Balbastre was a French composer, harpsichordist, and organist who lived from 1724 to 1799. He was known for his keyboard music, which was often light and playful in character. One of his most famous works is his transcription for keyboard of Mondville's Le Carnaval Du Parnasse: Muzette. The original work, Le Carnaval Du Parnasse, was a ballet-pantomime composed by Jean-Joseph Cassanéa de Mondonville in 1749. It was a celebration of the arts and featured characters representing various artistic disciplines. The Muzette movement was a pastoral dance, typically in 3/4 time, that was often played on the bagpipes. Balbastre's transcription for keyboard captures the light and playful character of the original work. It is written in the key of G major and is in 3/4 time. The piece begins with a simple melody played in the right hand, accompanied by a gentle arpeggio in the left hand. The melody is then repeated with a slightly more elaborate accompaniment. The middle section of the piece features a more complex melody, with the left hand playing a series of broken chords. The melody is then repeated with a more elaborate accompaniment, featuring trills and other ornamentation. The final section of the piece returns to the original melody, with the left hand playing a simple bass line. The piece ends with a gentle cadence in G major. Overall, Balbastre's transcription for keyboard of Mondville's Le Carnaval Du Parnasse: Muzette is a charming and delightful piece of music. It captures the pastoral character of the original work while showcasing Balbastre's skill as a keyboard composer. The piece premiered in the mid-18th century and remains a popular work for keyboardists today.

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