The septet was composed in 1879/80, commissioned for the Parisian Chamber Music Society ŒñLa TrompetteŒî. Saint-Saí‚ns had, however, hesitated for several years to comply with the request by the founder, í_mile Lemoine: ŒñI could compose a concerto for you for 25 guitars, but for trumpet Œ_ impossible!Œî Not only is the instrumentation that Lemoine requested unusual Œ_ trumpet, string quintet and piano Œ_ but also its stylistic proximity to Baroque suites. The septet in four movements, which quickly became popular due to the catchy nature of the music, proved to be the forerunner of numerous works in a neo-baroque style and is now published for the first time in a critical edition.
