Petite Symphonie pour instruments à vent
Charles GOUNOD (1818-1893)

Gounod wrote a wide range of music, in particular, sacred oratorios and operas. He also composed two symphonies, emulating Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. His tremendous success with his opera, eFaustf (1859) meant that he paid more attention to the theatre. In 1885, his friend, the highly influential flute professor of the Paris Conservatory, Paul Taffanel (1844 - 1908) commissioned him to write a piece of chamber music for winds. This resulted in his successful ePetite Symphonie pour instruments à ventf. Itfs instrumentation of a wind octet with added flute part in honour of Taffanel mirrors that of Mozartfs wind serenades.

This complete miniature symphony is elegant, delicate and sweet. The first movement comprises a slow introduction alla Haydn and an Allegretto in sonata form. The second movement particularly features the flute. The scherzo that follows is based on a hunting theme. The lively finale closes the symphony.

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