Philippe Gaubert (1879-1941) was a distinguished performer on the Flute. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that his compositions for the instrument are at the forefront of the instrument's repertoire, Ballade being no exception.

After a prominent career as a flautist with the Paris Opéra, he was appointed as professor of Flute at the Paris Conservatoire as well as principal conductor of leading orchestras. It was during this time that Gaubert composed, including his famous Ballade which premiered in 1927. Addressing many technical features including flourishing semiquaver passages and a wide range, Ballade is a challenging yet riveting and stirring piece for aspiring flautists.