The combination of clarinet and guitar is far less common than the more frequently encountered ones of flute-guitar or violin-guitar, even though there are references to it already at the end of the 18th century. Dimitri Ashkenazy and Jean-Paul Greub met in 2001, and parallel to what became an extraordinary friendship they shared an interest in rediscovering their duo's repertoire as well as continuing their search for concert material by commissioning new works. This undertaking led to concerts in Switzerland, Germany and Russia, playing works from three centuries both original and transcribed, many of them premieres. Transcriptions for various ensembles are almost a sine qua non of what is commonly known as “salon music”. Written primarily for amusement and entertainment, the original works are usually composed with easy future arrangement for other instruments in mind. This aspect also helps to make the pieces more popular, as more instrumentalists can include them in their repertoire. In this sense, the album presented here, featuring primarily arrangements of original works, is a legitimate undertaking. The artists at the origin of the featured music, themselves both composers and performers, showcased their talents before audiences of aristocrats and bourgeoisie, continually trying to emulate one another’s imagination, ingenuity and charm. The piano had become the instrument of choice, but the guitar also had its place: easy to transport and ideal for accompanying soloists, it attained a position of honour in the salons. The clarinet, too, left its mark on the period - regularly featured in the symphony orchestra from 1750 onwards, it achieved exalted status in the immortal works of W.A.Mozart. It is no surprise, therefore, that it, too, has its rightful place in the salon repertoire. Certain genres feature prominently: Rondos, Romances, Serenades, Nocturnes, Polonaises, Fantasies or Variations (often on themes from operas popular at the time). This abundance of forms and their transcriptions illuminate both the musical life of the time and the transition from the baroque to the classical and even romantic periods.