Debussy: Children's Corner [Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli]

One of the best pianists of the 20th century, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli (5 January 1920 – 12 June 1995) plays Claude Debussy’s Children’s Corner, L. 113, a six-movement suite for solo piano. This performance was recorded in Torino (Turin) in 1962.

Italian pianist Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli (5 January 1920 – 12 June 1995) plays Claude Debussy’s Children’s Corner, L. 113, a six-movement suite for solo piano. This performance was recorded in Torino (Turin) in 1962.

Debussy’s Children’s Corner

Debussy’s “Children’s Corner” is a six-movement piano suite composed in 1908, dedicated to his beloved daughter, Claude-Emma, affectionately known as Chouchou. The suite captures the essence of childhood with a blend of whimsy and sophistication, reflecting Debussy’s deep affection for his daughter and his fascination with the innocence and imagination of childhood.

The work was published in 1908 and was first performed by the famous pianist Harold Bauer (28 April 1873 – 12 March 1951) in Paris on 18 December that year.

The pieces (six total) within “Children’s Corner” are inspired by the toys and experiences of Chouchou’s early years. Debussy employs a variety of musical styles and elements to evoke the playful and curious nature of a child’s world.

The six pieces are (each with an English-language title):

Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum: A humorous take on piano exercises, mimicking the laborious studies of young pianists. It starts with repetitive, technical passages and gradually becomes more complex, showcasing Debussy’s playful approach to a typically mundane practice.
Jimbo’s Lullaby: A gentle, soothing piece inspired by a toy elephant. It features a rocking rhythm and tender melodies, evoking the comforting atmosphere of a lullaby and the innocence of childhood dreams.
Serenade for the Doll: This movement captures the delicate and graceful movements of a doll. It has a light, dance-like quality with intricate melodies, portraying the charm and elegance of a child’s cherished toy.
The Snow Is Dancing: A delicate and atmospheric piece that depicts the quiet, magical scene of falling snow. It features soft, shimmering textures and fluid melodies, creating an ethereal winter landscape.
The Little Shepherd: Evoking the simplicity and serenity of pastoral life, this movement features a lyrical, folk-like melody. It suggests a young shepherd playing a flute, with a gentle, contemplative mood.
Golliwogg’s Cakewalk: A lively and humorous piece influenced by ragtime music. It includes syncopated rhythms and playful melodies, ending the suite on an upbeat, cheerful note, reflecting Debussy’s interest in American jazz and popular music.

Claude-Emma “Chouchou” Debussy

Claude Debussy adored his daughter, Claude-Emma, who was born in 1905 while he and Emma Bardac lived at 80 Avenue Bois de Boulonge. Her name combined elements of her parents’ names, but she was fondly known as Chouchou. She was the inspiration for much of Debussy’s work, most notably “Children’s Corner,” which he dedicated to her in 1908. The power of imagination, innocence, and wonder of childhood greatly appealed to Debussy and was personified in his daughter.

According to Gaby Casadesus, Chouchou was an accomplished pianist and a charming person who played her father’s works very well. Roy Howat recounted an instance where Chouchou initially hesitated to sing at a gathering but soon after performed French songs with depth and maturity.

Claude Debussy with his daughter Claude Emma Chouchou Debussy. She inspired and dedicated his famous 1908 piano suite, Children Corner — Claude Debussy with- his daughter Claude Emma “Chouchou” Debussy. She inspired and dedicated his famous 1908 piano suite, “Children’s Corner.”

Tragically, Chouchou died while recovering from diphtheria after receiving incorrect treatment from a doctor. It is tantalizing to imagine what she could have accomplished had she lived. Roy Howat noted the powerful influence she had on Debussy’s compositions, suggesting that her death only a year after her father’s was almost as if she had come into the world solely to inspire him and, like the sprite Ondine, vanished into the realm of the supernatural after fulfilling that purpose.

Chouchou was the only child of composer Claude Debussy and the dedicatee of his famous 1908 piano suite, “Children’s Corner.” She died at the age of 13, a year after her father’s death, from complications of diphtheria. Her life and influence were the subject of the 1995 French film “La musique de l’amour: Chouchou (Chouchou: Music of Love).”