Milhaud emigrated to the United States in 1940 to escape the war in Europe, continuing to compose prolifically while teaching at Mills College in Oakland, California. This work is a suite for two pianos, consisting of three movements extracted from the ballet music of the same name from 1933 (choreographed by George Balanchine, Op. 124), and was completed at Mills in October 1943. It can be said to be similar in its genesis to "Scaramouche" (Op. 165b), which is based on incidental music. The premiere took place on May 7, 1945, at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, performed by the composer and his long-time friend, American pianist Allan Willman, on two pianos.

It consists of three movements: fast, slow, and fast. Movement 1: Scherzo (Très vif / F-sharp major). The agile movements concentrated in the high register express the aimlessness of a "daydream." Movement 2: Waltz (Modéré sans lenteur / F major). A refined miniature described as "Satie-esque". Movement 3: Polka (Animé / C major). A light melody is enhanced by exhilarating accents. Overall, it possesses tonal and clear musical ideas, belonging to the more approachable category among Milhaud's works for two pianos. It is also worth noting that Maurice Hinson, known for his research on piano duo works, stated that this work "could be a fresh alternative to the overplayed 'Scaramouche'."

It is also noteworthy that this work was commissioned by and dedicated to the piano duo Morley & Gearhart (Virginia Morley & Livingston Gearhart), who were at the peak of their popularity across the United States at the time. Morley and Gearhart, who met while studying in Paris, married in 1940 and began their piano duo performing career. They captivated audiences with their appearance, as if straight out of a movie screen, and their brilliant and elegant performing style, but later divorced by mutual consent in 1953, dissolving the piano duo. The period when this work was dedicated to them was the peak of their activity.