Flairck ‎– Bal Masqué (1984, LP, Netherlands)

Tracklist:

A1. Ouverture  2:49

A2. De Gravin  3:25

A3. Presto de l'estate  2:44

A4. Inventies (de ivoren toren)  6:41

A5. De Derde Wals  5:44

B1. Tango & Les Riches  9:07

B2. Het Debat  2:46

B3. Nocturne  3:45

B4. Reprise  2:40

B5. De Amsterdamse Grachten  2:25

Musicians:

Choir – Koor Van De Kerkmuziekschool Te Utrecht

Chorus Master – Jan Stulen

Concertmaster – Jenö Nemeth

Contrabass, Cello, Organ, Harmonium, Vocals [Choir Vocals] – Dirk van Gorp

Flute [Transverse Flute], Piccolo Flute, Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Accordion, Lead Vocals, Vocals [Choir Vocals] – Cornee Van Der Kleij

Guitar [6-String], Twelve-String Guitar, Resonator Guitar, Bouzouki, Banjo, Vocals [Choir Vocals] – Erik Visser

Orchestra – Noord-Hollands Philharmonisch Orkest

Tabla, Marimba, Percussion, Timpani, Vocals [Choir Vocals], Voice [Tabla Vocals] – Ted De Jong

Violin, Viola, Harp, Vocals [Choir Vocals] – Sylvia Houtzager

Originally Bal Masqué was written as an instrumental opera for Flairck and balletdancers. The first performances took place during a Dutch-Belgian tour in the spring of 1984. The libretto of this piece is based on the idea of a masqued ball with a number of important guests, who are staying in a place which is shut off from the outside world because of approaching danger. Apart from an overture and a reprise the music consists of various dances or acts in which one or more of the guests come to the foreground. When, after the Overture, all the guests have arrived, the hostess steps forward in a piece called The Countess. Presto da l'Estate (the third part of the Summer of the Four Seasons by A. Vivaldi) is part of the music played by the musicians at the ball. Inventions (part 1 the Ivory Tower, part 2 Eureka) is the dance of a General and The Rich (a song written by G. Moustaki) is about all the guests. The Debate is the story of a politician and Nocturne is a description of the end of a party. The piece ends with a Reprise of the opening theme.