Claude Balbastre (1724 - 1799)

Claude Balbastre (December 8, 1724 ? May 9, 1799) was a French composer, organist and harpsichordist. He was one of the most famous musicians of his time. Claude Balbastre was born in Dijon in 1724. Although his exact birthdate was disputed, discovery of his baptismal record has now made that date certain.[1]

Balbastre's father, a church organist in Dijon, had 18 children from two marriages and Claude 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 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 until 1782[2], 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.

An account of one of these services at Saint Roch is provided by Dr Charles Burney who recounts that, on Sunday 17 June 1770, left a dinner early in order to hear the 'celebrated' Balbastre play the organ at Saint Roch. Balbastre 'performed in all styles in accompanying the choir. When the Magnificat was sung, he played likewise between each verse several minuets, fugues, imitations, and every species of music, even to hunting pieces and jigs, without surprising or offending the congregation, as far as I was able to discover.'[3]

Burney visited Balbastre at home and reported that the latter owned a very beautiful harpsichord by Ruckers : 'After church M. Balbastre invited me to his house, to see a fine Rucker harpsichord which he has had painted inside and out with as much delicacy as the finest coach or even snuff-box I ever saw at Paris.' He also reported that he owned a 'very large organ, with pedals, which it may be necessary for a French organist to have for practice; it is too large and coarse for a chamber, and the keys are as noisy as those at St. Roque (sic).' Burney reports that Balbastre was on very good terms with his fellow composer Armand-Louis Couperin, to whom he introduced Burney, remarking 'I was glad to see two eminent men of the same profession, so candid and friendly together.'[4]

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.
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