Nos. 3-5 of Bacri's 'Esquisses Lyriques'. Valse triste is Bacri's third Esquisse Lyrique and third attempt at reviving the outdated genre of ’salon music’ that, in the 19th century, was meant to be a convivial genre expressing intimate feelings in the most acceptable way possible, thereby creating a sort of comedy of immodesty.

Chanson et valse (Esquisses lyriques nos. 4 and 5) was commissioned by Maria Canyigueral, a Catalan pianist residing in London, for her ‘Avant-guarding Mompou’ project...