These works were part of Saint-Saëns's efforts to expand the repertoire for instruments for which hardly any solo parts were written, as he confided to his friend Jean Chantavoine in a letter dated to 15 April 1921: "At the moment I am concentrating my last reserves on giving rarely considered instruments the chance to be heard.
"[1] The piece is dedicated to Louis Bas, first solo oboe with the Societé du Conservatoire de l'Opéra.
The first movement, Andantino, is music of a pastoral kind, in ternary form ABA.
[2] The introduction and epilogue are marked ad libitum - that is, the performer is free to choose the tempo considered most appropriate.
The last movement, titled Molto allegro, short and brilliant, has passages of great difficulty and virtuosity.