Masques et Bergamasques, Op. 112, is a twentieth-century musical homage to the world of the fêtes galantes of the eighteenth century by the French composer, organist, and choirmaster Gabriel Fauré (1845–1924). As first performed in Monte Carlo on 10 April 1919, it was a commission by Albert I, Prince of Monaco and was designed to accompany a one-act divertissement, a danced and sung entertainment, with a scenario by René Fauchois inspired by Paul Verlaine, relating how members of a commedia dell’arte troupe would spy on the amorous encounters of aristocrats in its audience. Its movements are almost all drawn from earlier works of Fauré: The title, Masques et Bergamasques (meaning "masks and bergamasks", a bergamask being a rustic dance), comes from the opening lines of the Verlaine poem sung as the sixth movement: "Votre âme est un paysage choisi / Que vont charmant masques et bergamasques." Fauré reportedly said of Masques et bergamasques that "it is like the impression you get from the paintings of Watteau".

The suite drawn from the work has remained one of Fauré’s most popular works, and consists of four of the purely orchestral movements:

Ouverture: Allegro motto vivo

Menuet: Tempo di minuetto – Allegretto moderato

Gavotte: Allegro vivo

Pastorale: Andantino tranquillo

This is my transcription the overture. It is arranged for wind dectet. It suits the wind ensemble and reminds me, in its feel and style, to Gounod’s nonet for wind