Masques et Bergamasques

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Masques et Bergamasques is a 20th century musical homage to the world of the fêtes galantes of the 18th century by the French composer, organist and choirmaster Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924).

Written quite late in Fauré's life, Masques et Bergamasques (as Op. 112) is commonly heard today as an orchestral suite. However, it originally arose in an unusual setting.

It was a commission by the Prince of Monaco and was designed to accompany a one-act divertissement, a danced and sung entertainment, with a scenario by René Fauchois relating how members of a commedia dell’arte troupe would spy on the amorous encounters of aristocrats in its audience.

Masques et Bergamasques was first performed in Monte Carlo on April 10, 1919. The orchestral suite consists of four movements: 1. an Ouverture; 2. a Menuet; 3. a Gavotte; 4. a Pastorale. The Gavotte may be played before the Menuet. The entire piece runs about 14 1/2 minutes.

Fauré reportedly said of Masques et Bergamasques that "it is like the impression you get from the paintings of Watteau." (In French, Masques et Bergamasques means masks and bergamasks, a bergamask being a rustic dance.)