Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687) was born in Florence, Italy. He worked his way up the hierarchy at the palace at Versailles, from kitchen-boy, language teacher, dancer, and finally court composer to the King Louis XIV, the "Sun King". His duties included supplying music for the most grandiose court entertainments; to this end he, in collaboration with the great playwright Molière, created a new form entitled the "comédie-ballet" such as operas and ballets, to more intimate settings such as music to accompany banquets. This piece is part of the music to Moliere's sharply satirical comédie-ballet "Le Bourgeois Gentil'homme".
In this simple and effective arrangement by Jock McKenzie the highly decorated solo line was recorded with poise and elegance on the piccolo trumpet by Philip Cobb.
