Children's Corner

This “little Suite” was published in 1908 and was dedicated to the composer’s then three-year old daughter: “To my beloved little Chouchou with the tender excuses of her father for what follows below”. The first movement, Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum,alludes to a study by Muzio Clementi. The titles of nos. 2 to 6 can be traced back to Debussy’s love of everything English.

Although the music addresses childish fantasy, at the least a talented amateur is required to perform it. The well-knownnumber 6, Golliwogg’s Cakewalk, is in ragtime style and shows Debussy’s easy-going approach to popular trends in music. Children’s Corner was immediately extremely successful and has been arranged for various groups of instruments.