Vittorio Monti was born in Naples, but lived most of his life in France. The Czardas is probably the best known of Hungarian gipsy dances. This version is composed of two parts: the first is slow and languorous, while the second is lively and calls on the virtuosity of the performer. Monti wrote this piece for violin and orchestra and soon many arrangements were made for all sorts of instruments and ensembles. Alain Crepin owned it to himself to write a version for saxophone.

Being himself a passionate aviation fan, the renowned saxophonist Benny Couroyer was a close friend of Alain Crepin for whom he had written a jazzy version of the “March of the Belgian Air Force”. After some revisions were made which were wanted by the composer’s widow, Alain Crepin has convinced the music publisher “Editions Robert Martin” to promote and distribute Benny Couroyer’s music. In “Historiette”, Benny Couroyer has given free course to his imagination in a quite simple and natural language. This well inspired piece with a smooth character is closely related to the “salon of drawing-room music”. It is perfectly suited for saxophone as this instrument’s warm sonority can easily create the atmosphere required.