Claude-Bénigne Balbastre

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Claude-Bénigne Balbastre (died May 9, 1799) was a French composer, organist and harpsichordist. He was one of the most famous musicians of his time.

[edit] Life

It is known that he was born in Dijon, but his birthdate is uncertain: it might be December 8, 1724 or January 22, 1724/1727. Balbastre's father, a church organist in Dijon, had 18 children from two marriages and Claude-Bénigne was the 16th (three of his brothers were named Claude). He received his first music lessons from his father, then became a pupil of Claude Rameau, the younger brother of Jean-Philippe Rameau, the most famous French musician at the time and also a native of Dijon.

Balbastre settled in Paris in 1750 and studied there with Pierre Février, whom he succeeded as organist of the Saint Roch church. Jean-Philippe Rameau helped and protected Claude-Bénigne when the latter settled in the city, so Balbastre was quickly and efficiently introduced to the parisian musical circles and high society, and made a brilliant career: he played at the Concert Spirituel, became organist of the Notre-Dame cathedral and of the Chapelle Royale, harpsichordist to the French royal court (he taught queen Marie-Antoinette) and organist for Louis-Stanislas-Xavier, Count of Provence (who later became Louis XVIII, King of France). His fame was so great that the archbishop of Paris had to forbid him to play at Saint Roch during some of the services, because the churches were always crowded when Balbastre played.

In 1763 he married Marie-Geneviève Hotteterre, who came from a famous French family of musicians. During the French Revolution, Balbastre's connection with nobility and the royal court might have endangered his life, but apparently he somehow adapted to the new politital situation, so he survived the storm, playing the Revolution hymns and songs on his organ. He did lose his official jobs and, temporarily, his pension. He died in Paris in 1799.

[edit] Works

Balbastre's known compositions include the following:

14 organ concertos (all lost)
quartet sonatas
two collections of harpsichord pieces (from 1748 and 1759)
four noëls variés suites for the fortepiano (1770).
variations on La Marseillaise: Marche des Marseillois et l’Air Ça-ira Arrangés pour le Forte Piano / Par le Citoyen C. Balbastre / Aux braves defenseurs de la Republique française l’an 1792 1er de la Republique