Books › Chats on violins, 1905 › scan 61
Scan 61
Chats on violins, 1905
8 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 43. See the scan on archive.org.
1pleasure "to go up and down and look upon the ladies and to hear the music of all sorts; and above all the twenty-four violins."
3In France a Royal band had existed since the time of Louis XIII. under the title of the "Twenty-Four Violins of the King's Chamber." These violinists were elevated from the position of mere minstrels and given the title of "Musiciens en Charge," with a prospect of being admitted to the "Chappell du Roi." Their duties consisted in playing for all the Court balls, performing airs, minuets, correntes, rigaudents, etc., in the king's antechamber, during his dinner, on his birthday, on any fête-day or great occasion.
5The passionate love of what were termed Ballets de Cour, a combination of dancing and the play, often caused the versatile violinists to turn their attention to this form of amusement for the diversion of their Royal Master, Louis XIV. One most amusing ballet called the Ballet des doubles Femmes was a great favourite, and frequently and enthusiastically encored.
7In this they dressed up as old women, and put masks on the back of their heads; they then walked in backwards, giving the ludicrous
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