fauré composed the orchestral version at le vésinet in the summer of 1887. he envisaged a purely orchestral composition, using modest forces, to be played at a series of light summer concerts conducted by jules danbé. after fauré opted to dedicate the work to his patron, elisabeth, comtesse greffulhe, he felt compelled to stage a grander affair and at her recommendation he added an invisible chorus to accompany the orchestra (with additional allowance for dancers). the choral lyrics were based on some inconsequential verses, "à la" verlaine, on the romantic helplessness of man, which had been contributed by the countess's cousin, robert de montesquiou.