In November 1897 Saint-Saëns gave a private performance for Queen Marie Christine of Spain at the church of San Francisco in Madrid. His short recital included the
Rhapsodies, Op 7, the ‘mon cœur’ aria from
Samson (transcribed on the spot) and a
Marche religieuse. Whether this piece was written previously, was written specifically for this occasion or improvised here and notated later is unclear. In any event it was published the following year with a dedication to Marie Christine. This exuberant, powerful and elegant piece was one of two organ pieces that Saint-Saëns included in what is supposed to have been his last public recital, at the Salle Gaveau on 6 November 1913.
from notes by Andrew-John Smith © 2008
