Poulenc's cantata Le Bal Masqué (for Baritone or Mezzo-Soprano and Chamber Orchestra) is written to texts by the poet Max Jacob, whose work can be seen as closely approaching surrealism; it dates from 1932. The instrumentation is strongly reminiscent of Stravinsky's L'Histoire du Soldat: oboe, clarinet, bassoon, cornet a piston, piano, violin, cello, and percussion-the latter under the control of one single player. In addition, the composer has precisely specified the placement of the nine performers and the conductor on the podium. Poulenc considered the work as a sort of carnival which he had set up in collaboration with the poet. This makes the introduction of a blind lady acceptable, a device which would be in questionable taste outside of this absurdist setting.