An accomplished French musician, Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns, founded “Société Nationale de Musique” in 1871. He guided many a protégé to create French instrumental works. What’s more, the next year, Saint-Saëns wrote Sonata No. 1 for Violoncello and Piano in c minor, op. 32 was regarded as an important milestone in French cello work. Although this work belongs to the late 19th century of France, Saint-Saëns followed the compositional devices of Germany and Austria. Here we take this thesis as our research direction and discussion.

This paper contains in-depth research on 19th century instrumental music development in France, then to Saint-Saëns’s life and the background and features of his work. Through analyzing and performing this work, provide rational interpretation.