Sonate für Klarinette und Klavier op. 167 (Auguste Périer gewidmet) Camille Saint-Saens

Camille Saint-Saëns was a French composer from the middle of the nineteenth century through the beginning of the twentieth century. Around the age of two, his mother realized he had perfect pitch and quickly started his formal education, with his first piece being published at age four. At the age of ten, gave a debut public recital with a performance of Mozart's Piano Concert No. 15, and many other pieces by Handel, Hummel, and Bach. As an encore, he offered to play any of Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas from memory. In the late 1840s, he entered the Paris Conservatory, studying organ and composition. Though he lived in the romantic period, and the twentieth century, he stuck mostly to romantic music and considered most twentieth century music offensive.

The Sonata for Clarinet and Piano in E flat major was written near the end of his life, published in November 1821. He dedicated this piece to Auguste Perier, professor of Clarinet at the Paris Conservatory. It is written in four movements and is very typical of music in the romantic era.

The movements are:
I. Allegretto
II. Allegro Animato
III. Lento
IV. Molto Allegro