Dedicated to Madame Jacquard.

Pas des Cymbales was published independently for piano four hands and two pianos in 1887, two years before the publication of the piano score of Callirhoë and three years before the Suite d’orchestre. Although this chronology raises the possibility that the work was later incorporated into the orchestral suite, it is equally possible that it was issued in advance as an independent keyboard excerpt from Callirhoë. No documentary evidence has yet been found to establish the sequence of composition or Chaminade’s intentions.

The plate numbers further suggest that the two versions were issued as part of a coordinated publication: the piano four-hands editions of Intermède and Pas des Cymbales bear plates 1344 and 1345, respectively, while their corresponding two-piano editions bear plates 1346 and 1347. This sequence indicates that the two versions were likely prepared and issued together, but it does not establish the order in which they were composed or arranged.

This conclusion is based on a comparison of the independently published four-hand and two-piano versions of Op. 36 with the published piano score of Callirhoë (Enoch, plate 1505). No contemporary source has yet been identified that explicitly describes Op. 36 as an extract from the ballet. Moreover, despite frequent claims that Op. 36, Pas des Cymbales, was extracted from Callirhoë, no corresponding movement or clearly identifiable musical equivalent has been located in the published piano score. The association may have been inferred by later bibliographers from the title of the Suite d’orchestre, Callirhoë, rather than from contemporary documentary evidence.

Première: February 4, 1886, Salle Érard, Paris; Cécile Chaminade and Camille Chevillard, two pianos.
Published for piano four hands: E. & C. 1345
Published for two pianos: E. & C. 1347

Transcription
Piano: by Weyler (E. & C 2155)