Two untitled miniatures survive only in manuscript sources at the Bibliothèque nationale and were printed for the first time in Otto Depenheuer’s 1991 edition where they acquired the working title of
Deux Versets. Though they don’t belong together this is a good description of both the function and content of the pieces. As free works they might be used in all manner of liturgical situations and are surely typical, if youthful, examples of Saint-Saëns’ small-scale improvisations. Only seventeen bars long, motivic material is gently worked with exquisite craftsmanship.
from notes by Andrew-John Smith © 2011
