For the circumstances surrounding the composition of this work, please refer to my humble article on The World Traveler (Op. 358). It was composed in Mills (California) from February 8 to 19, 1957. The premiere, publication, and recording of this work occurred simultaneously with The World Traveler, making Op. 358 and Op. 360 effectively a two-part diptych.

This work consists of six pieces depicting the world of paintings by Antoine Watteau [1684-1721], the revered French painter representative of the Rococo era, known for his 'fête galante' (gallant feast) paintings. In a conversation with Claude Rostand (1952), Milhaud explicitly denied that he drew inspiration from paintings, even though he enjoyed appreciating them. However, it can be inferred that Watteau's universally beloved paintings might have been an exceptional source of inspiration. This work can also be positioned as a piece in the lineage of instrumental works inspired by Watteau, alongside Debussy's L'Isle joyeuse, Hahn's Le Portrait de Watteau, and Poulenc's L'Embarquement pour Cythère.

In this work, the era in which Watteau was active is consciously evoked, with a pseudo-Baroque and neoclassical compositional style as its foundation, to which modern elements are added. While the introductory text on the title page of the published score describes it as having a 'Mozartean flavor,' the titling of each piece and their capricious, relaxed melodies clearly seem to strongly reflect the sensibility of French Baroque composers like Rameau and Couperin. There are many highlights, such as the fourth piece, 'Serenade,' which evokes the image of someone standing by a window at dusk, wistfully playing and singing with a kithara, and 'Masquerade,' which depicts noble ladies and gentlemen in lavish costumes engaging in flirtatious games. It possesses an archaic charm, akin to a Milhaud version of Le Tombeau de Couperin, and could become an interesting repertoire piece.

Pieces

• 1. Pastorale (牧歌). Quarter note = 108-112. 3/4 time, A minor.
• 2. The Indifferent (L’Indifférent) (無邪気). Quarter note = 60. 4/4 time, F minor.
• 3. Rustic Pleasures (Plaisirs champêtre) (田園の楽しみ). Dotted quarter note = 80. 6/8 time, G major.
• 4. Serenade (セレナーデ). Quarter note = 112. 3/4 time, C major.
• 5. Bagpipe (Musette) (バグパイプ). Quarter note = 54. 4/4 time, E-flat major.
• 6. Masquerade (Mascarade) (仮面舞踏会). Quarter note = 96. 4/4 time, B-flat major.