i. Adagio–Allegro 
ii. Andante cantabile (quasi adagio) attacca 
iii. Scherzo. Allegro moderato 
iv. Finale. Allegretto 
 

The Petite symphonie is the only nonet composed by Gounod, being better known for his operas and religious music. Written in 1885, it was commissioned by flautist Paul Taffenel, a renowned musician and professor at the Paris Conservatoire, who also happened to be a friend of Gounod’s. Woodwind instruments had recently been revolutionised thanks to Theobald Boehm, making them more structurally consistent and therefore more reliable as instruments. This led to the founding of a chamber music society by Taffenel to promote music for these improved instruments, sparking the creation of the Petite symphonie. The symphony is very typical of its kind, having four movements, and being greatly inspired by Mozart and Haydn’s wind pieces. Each movement contrasts in character and contains clear musical structures and flowing melodies that are characteristic of Gounod’s works.