The Oboe Sonata Op. 166 was the first of three Wind sonatas that Saint-Saëns wrote in his final year. Throughout his life he had been more familiar with Keyboard and Stringed instruments so thecomposer this time found himself in rather unfamiliar territory. Yet he instantly hit upon the inflections and special characteristics of these instruments. To ensure that the parts reflected the technical and tonal idiosyncrasiesof each instrument he asked advice of Wind soloists of his acquaintance before publication. His Sonata Op. 166 met with the highest approval of the oboist; a passage in a letter bears witness to this: ?It wentlike clockwork?. We were able to consult the autograph for the first time for this Urtext edition.

pour hautbois et piano-?Musique française? is a series designed for students and teachers as well as professionals. These editions offer masterworks in French music with performance suggestions and historical and stylistic commentary by noted scholars.