Composed in 1937. Milhaud was one of 'Les Six' of early 20th-century France. He resided in Brazil as a secretary to the French ambassador, and this influence is evident in his works. This 'Scaramouche' is an adaptation for two pianos of incidental music for 'Le Médecin volant' (The Flying Doctor), a children's play based on Molière's comedy. Influenced by jazz, it is a highly popular work due to its bright atmosphere and lively ensemble.

I. Vif

Vif means 'lively, vigorous,' and is used here as the title. From the outset, the first theme, featuring arpeggios and unison passages, is presented ff, followed by a second theme accompanied by a samba-like rhythm. This is a brilliant piece, characterized by frequent use of chromatic progressions and dotted rhythms, with the main melody rapidly shifting between the two performers.

II. Modéré

Modéré similarly holds the same meaning as the musical term 'moderato,' and functions as a slow movement when considering the three pieces as a whole. First, a simple melody is played by Piano I and imitated by Piano II, followed by fragmented motifs appearing in a dialogue-like manner. The middle section changes meter, and a quiet melody is exquisitely flavored with dotted rhythms and chromatic scales.

III. Brazileira

As indicated by 'in samba rhythm' at the beginning, it immediately commences with an intense samba rhythm played by both pianos, but the melody changes form responsively when it shifts to Piano II. In the middle section, the dizzying interplay between the chordal melody and syncopated rhythms resembles capricious women dancing wildly.