Irving Mills, Vice President of Belwin-Mills Publishing, was deeply impressed anew by Milhaud's music after attending the outdoor performance of Milhaud's opera David (Op. 320) at the Hollywood Bowl, which drew an audience of 20,000 (September 22, 1956). As Mills Publishing had long focused on publishing educational works, they commissioned Milhaud to write new pieces that would be accessible to students. Milhaud readily accepted, composing Le Voyageur sans Bagage (The World Traveler) (Op. 358) and La Joie de Vivre – In Praise of Watteau (Op. 360). Since these two works were premiered, published, and recorded simultaneously, they can effectively be considered a two-part diptych.

Le Voyageur sans Bagage selects six countries for which Milhaud held deep affection, depicting the characteristics of each. The selection, half European and half American, directly encapsulates Milhaud's activities throughout half of his life. Pieces like the tarantella-style "Italy" and the blues-infused "United States" can be considered conventional musical ideas that meet general expectations. Regarding "Mexico," it is well-known that Milhaud favored its climate and culture, and one recalls the testimony of his student Burt Bacharach, who recounted that Milhaud often visited popular Mexican restaurants in California with his students. The vibrant final movement, "Brazil," strongly conveys Milhaud's enduring attachment to that country, unchanged even 40 years after his life-altering stay there.

It was commenced on December 12, 1956, in Sion (Israel) and completed on January 16, 1957, in Mills (California). The orchestral version of this work was broadcast premiered simultaneously with Op. 360 on September 11, 1957, by Radio Lausanne, conducted by the composer. The following year, 1958, an LP record (Decca, DL 9965) featuring this work and Op. 360 on both sides, performed by the Los Angeles Chamber Ensemble conducted by the composer, was also released. While the orchestral version shows educational consideration in its modest scoring and ease of playing for each part, the piano version, written in parallel with the orchestral version, is not particularly geared towards learners. Rather, it presents the challenge of expressing a multi-layered structure by oneself, but it can also be said to offer the delight of playing its broad and bright musical ideas. It deserves renewed attention as a substantial piano work from Milhaud's later period. In addition to Le Voyageur sans Bagage, other Japanese titles include Sekai Kankō Ryokō Kumikyoku (World Sightseeing Tour Suite) and Man'yūsha Kumikyoku (Wanderer Suite).

Movements

• 1. France. Fast (Vif), 6/8 time, B-flat major.
• 2. Portugal. Moderate (Modéré), 4/4 time, G major.
• 3. Italy (Italie). Fast (Vif), 6/8 time, A major.
• 4. United States (États-Unis). Slow (Lent), 4/4 time, F major.
• 5. Mexico (Mexique). Animated (Animé), 4/4 time, G major.
• 6. Brazil (Brésil). Fast (Vif), 2/4 time, B-flat major.