It was originally written as a sight-reading test for students at the Paris Conservatoire, of which Fauré was the professor of composition from 1896 and director from 1905 to 1920.
Orixinariamente foi composto como unha proba de lectura a primeira vista para os estudantes do Conservatorio de París, onde Fauré foi profesor de composición dende 1896 e director de 1905 a 1920.