As with Schumann’s “Concert Piece for four Horns” op. 86 (HN 1138) Saint-Saëns’ “Morceau de Concert” was also composed with the idea of exploiting the technical possibilities of the new valve-horn mechanism. In this case, the French horn player Henri Chaussier provided the impulse. He had developed a novel “Cor omnitonique” and wanted to demonstrate the merits of his instrument with Saint-Saëns’ composition. Chaussier’s invention did not gain acceptance amongst horn players – although the “Morceau de Concert” did! The popular work with one movement is quite demanding technically; however, Saint-Saëns himself already suggested some abridgements and ossias to simplify the piece, meaning that also advanced pupils can venture to play it.
