Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921) wrote three sonatas for wind instruments the year that he died, his SONATA FOR BASSOON, Op. 168, being the last, and also among the last works he ever composed. These works were part of the composer's efforts to expand the solo repertoire for less commonly used instruments, writing to a friend, "At the moment I am concentrating my last reserves on giving rarely considered instruments the chance to be heard." The piece is dedicated to Clement-Leon Letellier.