Prière G-Dur op. 158

With his Concerto No. 1 in A minor, op. 33, Camille Saint-Saëns composed a classic of the cello literature. The French musician, however, also considered the instrument with further solo works, with a second concerto as well as with two sonatas, a suite with piano accompaniment and with the solo movement from his most famous work, the Carnival of the Animals: the Swan. The French musician ended his extensive creative work with a series of chamber music works and smaller works, also composing for the organ, the instrument with which he had begun his musical career. After two fantasies for organ, Saint-Saëns finally wrote his Prière for cello and organ in 1919. It is a simple and catchy composition: the cantabile beginning is followed by an expressive middle section that leads back to the contemplative beginning.

A year later, the original publisher also published an adaptation for violin, op. 158bis, which differs from the version for violoncello by minor corrections, an organ part adapted to the sound of the violin and a modified ending. With their meditative character, both versions are well suited for use in concert as well as in liturgical settings. The organ part is intended for a two-manual instrument - the few pedal notes are marked ad libitum by the composer, so that Prière can also be performed with piano.