This is a piece for 10 wind instruments.
Raff was the first composer to use the name “Sinfonietta” for an orchestral work in several movements similar to a symphony, but shorter and lighter in content. His single example of the genre he created is indeed symphonic in style with seriousness of purpose and technical brilliance. The work however has a relaxed sunny nature and a lightness of touch in the scoring for a small wind band. It was unique and popular in its time, and was clearly intended by Raff to be regarded as something greater than the wind serenades, which had been popular since Mozart’s time.
