Not many people know this, but Camille Saint-Saëns really needed a vacation after a particularly busy period at the Ecole normale. His students clamoured, "Don't forget to bring us back something! A fugue, perhaps." M. Saint-Saëns chuckled and waved goodbye from the departing train.

A few days later he was strolling along the Boulevard des anglais in Nice and it occurred to him: "I really should get the students something, as they've worked very hard. Let's see - " And he stepped into a gift shop.

"I was looking for a gift," he said to the woman behind the counter, "what would you suggest for, oh, fifty piano students?"

The woman thought for a moment. "How old are they? Cologne is always good. Or some cigarettes."

M. Saint-Saëns said: "You seem to be terribly concerned about it. Why don't I leave you here to worry the problem to death, and come back later, when you've recovered your equanimity?"

Of course, he already knew what he would bring the students. Nothing less than "Le carnaval des animaux" would do. "Ain't nothing too good for those guys," he thought, roughing out the first piece. He continued to work on it in the lounge car of the train, finally producing 14 short pieces, each full of musical gags and references.

And what a surprise for the students! How they chortled and hugged themselves with glee as they looked over the score. "Oh, sir," they cried, "It's frightfully wizard of you, isn't it, chaps?" They all fell to playing their favourite pieces as if there were no tomorrow. M. Saint-Saëns smiled indulgently. Then he clapped his hands for silence.

"There's one thing, though," he said, "This is just a sort of amusement. I don't want any of it published, or even performed in public."

The students howled in protest, but he was adamant.

"But sir," said little Alfred, his favourite, "What about no. 13 - The Swan? Of all the pieces it's the most beautiful." And he wiped away a tear. The others all consulted their scores. It was true: unlike the rest of the suite, "The Swan" was pure grace. M. Saint-Saëns relented. "All right, then. The Swan can be played outside of this class. But that's it."

And up until his death no complete score of "Carnaval" was published, nor was the suite performed in its entirety. He did, however, allow No.13, "The Swan", to be played, because it is so beautiful. It is also the only thing of his people play now.