Saint-Saëns’ etudes for the left hand were written in 1912 at the request of his pianist friend Caroline Montigny-Rémaury de Serres, who had suffered an injury to her right hand.

These etudes which were printed in 1913 were originally entitled “Petites pieces” by Saint-Saëns in his manuscript and indeed the cycle, which the composer himself described as “charming” and “amusing”, lacks any rigour of an etude collection.

Particularly the “Bourrée” quickly enjoyed great popularity. The editi...