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." In 1763, he married Marie-Geneviève Hotteterre, daughter of Jacques Martin Hotteterre and descendant of the famous family of Norman musicians. During the French Revolution, Balbastre's connection with nobility and the royal court might have endangered his life, but he adapted to the new political situation, playing the Revolutionary hymns and songs on his organ. He did lose his official posts and, temporarily, his pension. He died in Paris in 1799. Works Balbastre's best-known compositions include the following: 14 organ concertos (all lost but one) quartet sonatas two collections of harpsichord pieces (from 1748 and 1759) four noëls variés suites for the organ or 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 défenseurs de la République française l’an 1792 1er de la République See also List of French harpsichordists French organ school References External links Listen to Petite chasse French male classical composers French Classical-period composers Composers for harpsichord French classical organists French male organists French harpsichordists 1724 births 1799 deaths Musicians from Dijon 18th-century classical composers 18th-century French composers 18th-century French male musicians Male classical organists