Gabriel Pierné will be an unfamiliar name to most readers, although those remembering the 78rpm era may recall his once-famous novelty item, the Parade of the Little Lead Soldiers. He made his reputation with pieces of this kind and the scherzo-like Fantasie-Impromptu, the Sérénade and especially the winsome Berceuse show the simple charm of his writing in the 1880s. But with the arrival of the Violin Sonata in 1900 he began to produce music of real quality. It is a work of flowing lyrical feeling: the nostalgic melodic inspiration of the first movement is endearing and the dreamy, folksy Andante tranquillo is hardly less captivating. The finale brings back both main themes from the first movement and the cyclic and chromatic influences of Pierné's mentor, César Franck, are clear. But the work stands out impressively on its own terms, especially when played with such warmth and conviction as it is by Philippe Koch and Christian Ivaldi, and vividly recorded.

The Piano Quintet (1916_17) is also strongly influenced by the comparable Franck work. Its first movement opens and closes with a magnetic molto tranquillo but has a passionate core. The central movement is rather extended but leads naturally into the finale, which tends to falter in the long, repetitive development and recapitulation - not the fault of the performers, who play throughout with great conviction. But the fecundity of ideas means that this is still an enjoyable work.

However, with the wind music on the second disc, the ear is endlessly diverted. The pieces for oboe and bassoon (with piano) are delightful, as is the Pastoral variée for wind septet (including trumpet), while the whimsical writing in the Giration ballet (1933) is delectably inventive, lightweight but charmingly scored. These works are all played with winning elegance and are beautifully recorded. At times one is reminded of the music of Françaix. The last, rather sentimental item, Nuit divine, includes the recitation of a poem by d'Albert Samain for which no translation is provided. Otherwise presentation and documentation are impeccable.