Although mostly known for his orchestral music and Requiem, Gabriel Fauré (1845 - 1924) composed more than 70 works for voice and piano, and was once commended by Maurice Ravel for saving French vocal music from the dominance of the German lied. One of the most famous of these art songs, Après un rêve (Op. 7, No. 1) is transcribed here for solo contra clarinet and piano. In the case of this art song, the solo part has been transposed to accommodate the key of each solo instrument, either a contrabass clarinet (in B-flat) or a contralto clarinet (in E-flat).

This work can be played with either a contrabass or contralto clarinet.