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Children's Corner

May 01, 2024

"The Children's Corner" redirects here. For information on the Pittsburgh-based children's television program, see Josie Carey and Fred Rogers.

Children's Corner, L. 113, is a six-movement suite for solo piano by Claude Debussy. It was published by Durand in 1908, and was first performed by Harold Bauer in Paris on 18 December that year. In 1911, an orchestration by André Caplet was premiered and subsequently published.

Children's Corner
Piano music by Claude Debussy
Excerpt from the last movement, Golliwogg's Cakewalk
CatalogueL. 113
Composed1906–1908
DedicationClaude-Emma Debussy
Performed18 December 1908 (1908-12-18)
Published1908
Movementssix

History edit

Debussy composed Children's Corner between 1906 and 1908. He dedicated the suite to his daughter, Claude-Emma (known as "Chou-Chou"),[1] who was born on 30 October 1905 in Paris. She is described as a lively and friendly child who was adored by her father. She was three years old when he dedicated the suite to her in 1908.[2] The dedication reads: "A ma chère petite Chouchou, avec les tendres excuses de son Père pour ce qui va suivre. C. D." (To my dear little Chouchou, with tender apologies from her father for what follows).[3]

The suite was published by Durand in 1908, and was given its world première in Paris by Harold Bauer on 18 December that year.[1] In 1911, an orchestration of the work by Debussy's friend André Caplet received its premiere, and was subsequently published.

Structure edit

The suite is in six movements, each with an English-language title. This choice of language is most likely Debussy's nod towards Chou-Chou's English governess.[1] The pieces are:[3]

  1. Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum
  2. Jimbo's Lullaby
  3. Serenade for the Doll
  4. The Snow Is Dancing
  5. The Little Shepherd
  6. Golliwogg's Cakewalk

A typical performance of the suite lasts roughly 15 minutes.

1. Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum edit

 
Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The title of the first movement alludes to sets of piano exercises of that name (Gradus ad Parnassum translates as "Steps to Parnassus"), several of which had been published in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, including one by the prolific publisher of piano exercises Carl Czerny. This piece is a rather ingenious study in finger independence with a twentieth-century vocabulary. In the middle, the pianist slows down and tries the material in other keys for exercise. Debussy's "Doctor Gradus Ad Parnassum" is of intermediate difficulty and requires the ability to play more quickly and wildly. The pianist gets more frantic toward the end and finishes the piece with a bang. Debussy told his publisher that the movement should be played "very early in the morning".[3]

2. Jimbo's Lullaby edit

This work describes an elephant, Jumbo, who came from the French Sudan and lived briefly in the Jardin des plantes in Paris around the time of Debussy's birth. The misspelling "Jimbo" betrays the Parisian accent which often confuses the pronunciation of "um" and "un" with "im" and "in". It is a beautiful lullaby with some dark moments and whole-tone passages in the middle.

3. Serenade for the Doll edit

This piece, in triple meter, is marked Allegretto ma non troppo (moderately fast, but not too fast). It is a description of a porcelain doll and features the Chinese pentatonic scale throughout. Debussy notes that the entire piece should be played with the soft pedal.

4. The Snow Is Dancing edit

This piece can be considered quite difficult as it requires precise semi-detached playing in both hands with the melody between them. Again, there are darker moments in the bass near the middle. It portrays snow and muted objects seen through it.[citation needed]

5. The Little Shepherd edit

"The Little Shepherd" depicts a shepherd with his flute. There are three solos and three commentaries following them. The first solo has a breath mark at the end. This piece has different modes in it and uses dissonances, which resolve into tonality.

6. Golliwogg's Cakewalk edit

 
Four measures that quote the opening of Tristan und Isolde

At the time of its composition, Golliwoggs were in fashion, due partly to the popularity at that time of the novels of Florence Kate Upton ("golliwog" is a later usage). They were stuffed black dolls with red pants, red bow ties and wild hair, reminiscent of the blackface minstrel shows of the time. The cakewalk was a dance or a strut, and the dancer with the most elaborate steps won a cake ("took the cake"). The piece is a ragtime with its syncopations and banjo-like effects. The dynamic range is quite large and very effective[citation needed].

During the piece, Debussy alludes satirically to Richard Wagner's opera Tristan und Isolde. The opening bars turn the famous half-diminished Tristan chord into a jaunty, syncopated arpeggio,[4] while the middle 'B' section of this dance is interrupted on several occasions by the love-death leitmotif, marked avec une grande émotion (with great feeling). Each quotation is followed by banjo imitations.

Debussy composed one more piece in the same style a year later, "The Little Nigar", as part of a piano method.

Orchestrations and arrangements edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Hinson 2007.
  2. ^ McKinley 1986, 249.
  3. ^ a b c Nichols, Roger. "Children's Corner, L. 113". Naxos Records. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  4. ^ Marion 2012, pp. 36–59.
  5. ^ "Radio 3 in Concert". BBC Radio 3. 28 April 2016.

Sources edit

  • Hinson, Maurice, ed. (2007). Children's Corner: for the piano. Alfred Music Publishing. ISBN 978-0-73-904757-6.
  • Marion, Gregory (13 September 2012). "Crossing the Rubicon: Debussy and the Eternal Present of the Past". Articles. 27 (2). Consortium Erudit: 36–59. doi:10.7202/1013112ar. ISSN 1918-512X.
  • McKinley, Ann (Autumn 1986). "Debussy and American Minstrelsy". The Black Perspective in Music. 13 (3). Foundation for Research in the Afro-American Creative Arts: 249–258. doi:10.2307/1215065. JSTOR 1215065.

Further reading edit

  • Cross, Anthony (February 1967). "Portrait of Debussy. 2: Debussy and Bartók". The Musical Times. 108 (1488): 125–127, 129–131. doi:10.2307/953925. JSTOR 953925.
  • Schmitz, E. Robert (1950). The Piano Works of Claude Debussy, pp. 117–125. Foreword by Virgil Thomson. New York: Duell, Sloan & Pearce.

External links edit

  • Children's Corner: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
  • Sherry Lin-Yu, Chen (2001). Debussy's Children's Corner: A pedagogical approach (D.M.A. Thesis). Rice University. hdl:1911/17945.
  • Burnson, William Andrew. "A Functional Analysis of Debussy's Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum from the Children's Corner Suite" (PDF). Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  • G is for Gradus and Golliwogg – Children’s Corner Suite – Debussy notesfromapianist.wordpress.com 2012
  • Children's Corner (in German) jochenscheytt.de
  • Children's Corner – Eine Werkbetrachtung (in German) christianjahl.de

May 01, 2024
children, corner, redirects, here, information, pittsburgh, based, children, television, program, josie, carey, fred, rogers, movement, suite, solo, piano, claude, debussy, published, durand, 1908, first, performed, harold, bauer, paris, december, that, year, . The Children s Corner redirects here For information on the Pittsburgh based children s television program see Josie Carey and Fred Rogers Children s Corner L 113 is a six movement suite for solo piano by Claude Debussy It was published by Durand in 1908 and was first performed by Harold Bauer in Paris on 18 December that year In 1911 an orchestration by Andre Caplet was premiered and subsequently published Children s CornerPiano music by Claude DebussyExcerpt from the last movement Golliwogg s CakewalkCatalogueL 113Composed1906 1908DedicationClaude Emma DebussyPerformed18 December 1908 1908 12 18 Published1908Movementssix Contents 1 History 2 Structure 2 1 1 Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum 2 2 2 Jimbo s Lullaby 2 3 3 Serenade for the Doll 2 4 4 The Snow Is Dancing 2 5 5 The Little Shepherd 2 6 6 Golliwogg s Cakewalk 3 Orchestrations and arrangements 4 References 4 1 Sources 4 2 Further reading 5 External linksHistory editDebussy composed Children s Corner between 1906 and 1908 He dedicated the suite to his daughter Claude Emma known as Chou Chou 1 who was born on 30 October 1905 in Paris She is described as a lively and friendly child who was adored by her father She was three years old when he dedicated the suite to her in 1908 2 The dedication reads A ma chere petite Chouchou avec les tendres excuses de son Pere pour ce qui va suivre C D To my dear little Chouchou with tender apologies from her father for what follows 3 The suite was published by Durand in 1908 and was given its world premiere in Paris by Harold Bauer on 18 December that year 1 In 1911 an orchestration of the work by Debussy s friend Andre Caplet received its premiere and was subsequently published Structure editThis section possibly contains original research Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations Statements consisting only of original research should be removed April 2023 Learn how and when to remove this message The suite is in six movements each with an English language title This choice of language is most likely Debussy s nod towards Chou Chou s English governess 1 The pieces are 3 Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum Jimbo s Lullaby Serenade for the Doll The Snow Is Dancing The Little Shepherd Golliwogg s Cakewalk A typical performance of the suite lasts roughly 15 minutes 1 Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum edit nbsp Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum source source Problems playing this file See media help The title of the first movement alludes to sets of piano exercises of that name Gradus ad Parnassum translates as Steps to Parnassus several of which had been published in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries including one by the prolific publisher of piano exercises Carl Czerny This piece is a rather ingenious study in finger independence with a twentieth century vocabulary In the middle the pianist slows down and tries the material in other keys for exercise Debussy s Doctor Gradus Ad Parnassum is of intermediate difficulty and requires the ability to play more quickly and wildly The pianist gets more frantic toward the end and finishes the piece with a bang Debussy told his publisher that the movement should be played very early in the morning 3 2 Jimbo s Lullaby edit This work describes an elephant Jumbo who came from the French Sudan and lived briefly in the Jardin des plantes in Paris around the time of Debussy s birth The misspelling Jimbo betrays the Parisian accent which often confuses the pronunciation of um and un with im and in It is a beautiful lullaby with some dark moments and whole tone passages in the middle 3 Serenade for the Doll edit This piece in triple meter is marked Allegretto ma non troppo moderately fast but not too fast It is a description of a porcelain doll and features the Chinese pentatonic scale throughout Debussy notes that the entire piece should be played with the soft pedal 4 The Snow Is Dancing edit This piece can be considered quite difficult as it requires precise semi detached playing in both hands with the melody between them Again there are darker moments in the bass near the middle It portrays snow and muted objects seen through it citation needed 5 The Little Shepherd edit The Little Shepherd depicts a shepherd with his flute There are three solos and three commentaries following them The first solo has a breath mark at the end This piece has different modes in it and uses dissonances which resolve into tonality 6 Golliwogg s Cakewalk edit nbsp source Audio playback is not supported in your browser You can download the audio file Four measures that quote the opening of Tristan und Isolde At the time of its composition Golliwoggs were in fashion due partly to the popularity at that time of the novels of Florence Kate Upton golliwog is a later usage They were stuffed black dolls with red pants red bow ties and wild hair reminiscent of the blackface minstrel shows of the time The cakewalk was a dance or a strut and the dancer with the most elaborate steps won a cake took the cake The piece is a ragtime with its syncopations and banjo like effects The dynamic range is quite large and very effective citation needed During the piece Debussy alludes satirically to Richard Wagner s opera Tristan und Isolde The opening bars turn the famous half diminished Tristan chord into a jaunty syncopated arpeggio 4 while the middle B section of this dance is interrupted on several occasions by the love death leitmotif marked avec une grande emotion with great feeling Each quotation is followed by banjo imitations Debussy composed one more piece in the same style a year later The Little Nigar as part of a piano method Orchestrations and arrangements editFrench composer Andre Caplet orchestrated the entire suite in 1911 Danish composer Hans Abrahamsen orchestrated the entire suite in 2015 5 Scottish guitarist Paul Galbraith transcribed the entire suite for brahms guitar in 2006 Leigh Howard Stevens transcribed five of the six movements for marimba Japanese composer Isao Tomita transcribed the fourth and sixth movements for Moog Synthesizer in 1974 RCA CD RCD14587 References edit a b c Hinson 2007 McKinley 1986 249 a b c Nichols Roger Children s Corner L 113 Naxos Records Retrieved 21 August 2018 Marion 2012 pp 36 59 Radio 3 in Concert BBC Radio 3 28 April 2016 Sources edit Hinson Maurice ed 2007 Children s Corner for the piano Alfred Music Publishing ISBN 978 0 73 904757 6 Marion Gregory 13 September 2012 Crossing the Rubicon Debussy and the Eternal Present of the Past Articles 27 2 Consortium Erudit 36 59 doi 10 7202 1013112ar ISSN 1918 512X McKinley Ann Autumn 1986 Debussy and American Minstrelsy The Black Perspective in Music 13 3 Foundation for Research in the Afro American Creative Arts 249 258 doi 10 2307 1215065 JSTOR 1215065 Further reading edit Cross Anthony February 1967 Portrait of Debussy 2 Debussy and Bartok The Musical Times 108 1488 125 127 129 131 doi 10 2307 953925 JSTOR 953925 Schmitz E Robert 1950 The Piano Works of Claude Debussy pp 117 125 Foreword by Virgil Thomson New York Duell Sloan amp Pearce External links editChildren s Corner Scores at the International Music Score Library Project Sherry Lin Yu Chen 2001 Debussy sChildren s Corner A pedagogical approach D M A Thesis Rice University hdl 1911 17945 Burnson William Andrew A Functional Analysis of Debussy s Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum from the Children s Corner Suite PDF Retrieved 21 August 2018 G is for Gradus and Golliwogg Children s Corner Suite Debussy notesfromapianist wordpress com 2012 Children s Corner in German jochenscheytt de Children s Corner Eine Werkbetrachtung in German christianjahl de Portal nbsp Classical music Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Children 27s Corner amp oldid 1197687744 6 Golliwogg s Cakewalk, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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