In 1888, Erik Satie wrote his three Gymnopédies for piano solo, however only the first and third were published initially, separately. The second was later published in 1895, with the complete grouping of the three finally available together for the first time in 1898. The orchestration by Claude Debussy came about following a meeting of the two friends at the house of Swiss conductor Gustave Doret in 1896. Selecting the first and third of the Gymnopédies, Debussy reversed the order of them and they received their premiere at a concert of the Société Nationale in February 1897. This arrangement for clarinet choir, Deux Gymnopédies, adapts Debussy's orchestrations and returns them to Satie's original order.

Instrumentation:

• E-Flat Clarinet
• 4 B-Flat Clarinets
• Alto Clarinet/Basset Horn/Clarinet 5
• Bass Clarinet
• Contrabass Clarinet/Contralto Clarinet/String Bass