The piece was dedicated to George W. Stewart, a trombonist and the musical director of the 1915 World's Fair in San Francisco, where Saint-Saëns had participated in several concerts.

Composed immediately after Saint-Saëns' return to Paris from the United States, the cavatina showcases the lyrical and vocal qualities of the trombone, despite its technical demands.

[1] Saint-Saëns spent seven weeks at the fair, conducting three concerts devoted exclusively to his own works, including the orchestral piece Hail!

[1] The Cavatine, titled in reference to a shorter, rather unadorned operatic aria, deliberately evokes vocal music,[1] and is written in D♭ major.

[2] Although the opening triadic arpeggios and scales are instrumental in nature, Saint-Saëns emphasizes the lyrical-cantabile aspect throughout the piece, allowing the trombone's vocal qualities to shine.

[1] When the Cavatine was selected as an examination piece for the trombone class at the Paris Conservatoire in 1922, Parisian music critics were unfamiliar with the work.