Chaminade wrote the Concertino in 1902 as an examination piece for flute students at the Paris Conservatoire, where it was used for many years thereafter. The work is dedicated to the famed French flutist and teacher Paul Taffanel, who, after a long playing career in the Paris Opéra Orchestra (1864-1890) and as a conductor, retired from public performance and served as flute professor at the Conservatoire from 1893 until his death in 1908. Chaminade's composition, with its wide-ranging, highly decorative solo part, does in fact provide quite a workout for the flutist. A broad and graceful melody opens the work. After a more active central section, marked Più animato agitato in the score, a short oboe phrase leads into a cadenza for the soloist. A reprise of the opening melody and a rousing coda conclude this melodic and attractive work.

© Chris Morrison, Rovi