The works of the gifted and prolific composer Camille Saint-Saëns (1835–1921) embody many of the qualities considered essentially French, particularly clarity and order. A whole generation marveled at the intellectual mastery of Saint-Saëns' works as well as the composer's virtuoso keyboard performances of his own creations.
Saint-Saëns wrote in every nineteenth-century musical genre and in 1908 was the first established composer to write film music. His most successful compositions, however, are those based on traditional Viennese models, such as the sonatas and trios of this volume. Rich in imaginative rhythms, these pieces exhibit skillful workmanship, clear texture, and effective interplay of instrumental lines and colors. Intermediate and advanced violinists and pianists will delight in this treasury of hard-to-find sonatas and trios, reproduced from authentic sources.