Composed as incidental music for a comedy, Masquerade calls for a diverse pallet of music depicting ballet and dance scenes filled with silly play and gaiety. The music is graceful in Cotillion, playful in the Bacchanale, and burlesque-like for the Rooster and Grotesque dances. While the original orchestral suite consisted of eight dances, this arrangement for concert band uses the first, third, fifth and sixth movements. A stylish programming selection of humor, wit and elegance in four brief movements for accomplished ensembles.