143

Simplicité

valse à ne pas danser

by Bizet and Massenet

[musical score]
45 bars, of which 8 are to be repeated
piano duet (prima and seconda)

Composition: 19 November 1871. The Prima part is by Massenet, the Seconda by Bizet. The manuscript, in the hands of the respective composers, is dated.

Autograph score: GB-Lbl (O.W. Neighbour deposit). Oblong 10-stave paper, 2 f., 4 p.

Bizet’s page (Seconda) is inscribed:
19 11 71 à Madame de Beaulieu, manifestation convaincue de mes espérances musicales !...
Georges Bizet

Massenet’s page (Prima) is inscribed:
19 novembre 71 à Madame de Beaulieu antimanifestation sans conviction. J. Massenet.

blank, music 2–3, blank. The Prima part has an additional bar, presumably in error, 12 bars before the end.
Dedicatee: Madame de Beaulieu, a cousin of Bizet’s wife, Geneviève Halévy. The feminine terms prima and seconda suggest that the piece was to be played by ladies.