The seventh of Massenet's various suites for orchestra draws its inspiration from Alsace, a portion of France that was lost to Germany after the Franco-Prussian War (1870 -1871). The work contains four movements: 1. Dimanche matin (Sunday morning), 2. Au cabaret (At the cabaret), 3. Sous les tilleuls (Under the lime-trees), 4. Dimanche soir (Sunday evening). It was first performed in Paris on March 19, 1882. For the premiere performance, the novelist Alphonse Daudet provided a poetic writing to accompany the music, a poignant description of life in Alsace. In the final movement, Massenet incorporates the French Retrait (retreat), with its military sound of trumpets and drums, making reference to the sad loss that the French had experienced in the region.

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