New Millennium Strings
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Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Petite Suite
Claude Debussy composed the Petite Suite in 1889 as a piano duet, and it was later orchestrated by Henri Büsser. En Bateau is an image of being on a boat at sea. The rhythm at the beginning of the first movement, slightly offset by the violins, and then stabilized by the harp, helps the listener picture a scene with boats and the ocean. The second movement, Cortege, begins as an upbeat dotted-rhythm melody shared by winds first and then by strings. It is a sectional movement. A scherzando appears as the theme is slightly held back, but it is not without its crisp grace notes. The Menuet begins with an entreating duet between the English horn and the oboe. Next, the strings join the pensive mood with the almost ancient-sounding melodic line. The Ballet is a rollicking final movement. The allegro gusto, which is energetic and fun-loving, is like a Cake Walk. In the middle section is a free and joyous waltz.
-- program notes by Laurien Jones