Debussy, Piano Suite "Children's corner"

Emma Bardac was smart and educated. In addition, she sang, and very well (Gabriel Fauré had composed a song for her). In 1903, one of the things she wanted most in the world was to meet the famous composer Claude Debussy, who at the age of forty was enjoying the height of his fame in the company of his wife Lily, whom he had married four years earlier. Emma, on the other hand, had married a banker, was rich, and had her life figured out.

There was nothing that could suggest it, but the year 1903 would bring a commotion that would shake the peaceful lives of Claude and the wealthy Emma.

Claude and Emma
The occasion to meet arose through the lessons Debussy began to give to a son of the well-to-do couple. At first, the composer tried to resist Emma's charms, but her fluent conversation and worldly air eventually seduced him. Deeply in love, the following year they both got a divorce, after overcoming some incidents such as Lily's suicide attempt that caused the momentary estrangement of some of the musician's friends. They married in 1908, when the only child of the couple was already three years old, little Claude-Emma, as she was called.

Debussy and his child, in 1916

Suite for little Chouchou
That same year, as an offering to his little daughter, Debussy composed a short suite for piano that the composer entitled Children's Corner, in English, as well as its parts, in support of the child's efforts to learn the language from her English governess. In the dedication, Debussy will immortalize the nickname by which the girl was familiarly called: "To my very dear little Chouchou, with her father's most tender apologies for what follows".

Claude Debussy will only live ten more years, and Emma Bardac will accompany him until his death. Little Chochou also, but a victim of diphtheria, will outlive her father by only one year.

Suite for piano Children's corner - Movements

The suite is composed by six miniatures evocative of the nature and essence of childhood, although they were not conceived to be performed by inexperienced pianists. Premiered in December 1908, the work was orchestrated by a friend of Debussy's three years later.

Its parts are:

00       Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum - Slightly ironic piece about tedious piano lessons.

02:28  Jimbo's Lullaby - Lullaby for the elephant Jumbo (pronounced Jimbo by the French).

05:56  Serenade for the Doll - About the mysterious and fun life that toys would have.

08:44  The Snow is Dancing - Snow falling in the garden, seen from a cozy room.

11:41  The Little Shepherd  - About a little shepherd and his flute.

14:13  Golliwogg's Cakewalk - The dancing (cakewalk, reminiscent of jazz) of a black doll (golliwogg).

The rendition is by Italian pianist Bruno Canino.