Camille Saint-Saens

Paris-born Charles Camille Saint-Saëns was a child prodigy, composing his first piece for piano at the age of three. He was a private student of Gounod and entered the Paris Conservatory at age 13. Saint-Saëns had total recall; any book he read or tune he heard was forever committed to his memory.

The Trois Préludes et Fugues, Op 99 were written in 1894 and are Saint-Saëns' first significant organ pieces for nearly thirty years. Dedicated to Widor, Guilmant and Gigout respectively. They combine characterful preludes with well-worked fugues which Saint-Saëns expressed some hesitation in writing. He was clearly satisfied with the results however as he included them in his 1899 recital in front of the academics at Trinity College, Cambridge. Preludes Nos 1 and 2 are both gentle and graceful.