 The work was commissioned by the American soprano and patron of the arts Alice Swanson Esty who also commissioned Tailleferre's L'Adieu du Cavalier for Esty's memorial concert for Francis Poulenc in 1964.The cycle was premièred in France on March 12, 1961 at Radio France by the French Baritone Aimé Doniat with the composer at the piano and premièred in the United States on March 13, 1961 at Alice Esty's recital in Carnegie Hall.Tailleferre met Pinget through her daughter Françoise Lageat.