Debussy, C :: Golliwogg's Cakewalk from Children's Corner

Nourse Wind Publications presents Claude Debussy's 'Golliwogg's Cakewalk' from 'Children's Corner' arranged for flute choir by Nancy Nourse.

'In 1908, fourteen years after composing the 'Prelude a l'Apres-midi d'un faune', Claude Debussy completed the piano suite, 'Children's Corner', which was dedicated to his daughter 'Chouchou'. The sixth and final movement, Golliwogg's Cakewalk, is a delightfully clever miniature that demonstrates Debussy's recognition of two major trends in late nineteenth century music. The obvious one if Debussy's use of the innovative ragtime rhythms of American culture. This was one of the first wester art compositions to utilize the popular dance styles of the day.

The second trend, much less evident however, is the 'tribute' to Richard Wagner. In his earlier years, Debussy studied the music of Wagner with great admiration. However late (through the influence of Erik Satie) he began to rebel against the large forms and excessive emotionalism of this musical style that had dominated contemporary Europe. It is with tongue in cheek that Debussy inserted a melodic quotation from Wagner's opera 'Tristan and Isolde' (beginning at measure 61) in a simple and thinly textured setting, so unlike Wagner's original.

This arrangement is completely performable by an ensemble of seven players. Between measures 63-69 and 75-78 it is possible for Flutes 1, 2, and 3 to play these notes on piccolo (transposing them down an octave), to give it a really unique sound and timbral contrast.'

- Nancy Nourse