First of the series of Quatre Visages by Darius Milhaud, I. La californienne is a short piece for Viola and Piano. With some difficulties, it requires some intermediate technique of the instrument and some theory knowledge to read in different keys. The book includes the score for Viola and Piano and the part for Viola only.

The music has moderate tempo and is quite expressive. It is supposed to represent an American girl from California. She is part of the four faces with: II. The Wisconsonian, III. La Bruxelloise and IV. La Parisienne.

Darius Milhaud (1892-1974) was a French modernist composer and a teacher. He was also part of Les Six and was strongly influenced by Jazz. His opus list ended at 443.