Debussy - The Snow is Dancing - Children's Corner Suite

The fourth piece from Claude Debussy's "Children's Corner Suite", composed for piano and later orchestrated by Andre Caplet, 'The Snow is Dancing', is performed here by the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, led by the great Charles Dutoit.

Possibly the most symbolic of the pieces in this suite, 'The Snow is Dancing" is evocative of its title; I, personally, clearly picture snow falling lightly in the woods around Walden Pond. Debussy, ever the symbolist (he hated the term "Impressionist" for himself and his work) made his musical paintings with broad and vivid strokes of melodic color.
Caplet's orchestration makes the piece feel even softer than Debussy's original piano piece, which feels of walking in the clouds, the harmony so delicate against the disconcerting staccatos. But the orchestration turns the piece completely to one of a splendid, dreamlike other-world where sharp edges are softened by the snow as it slowly covers the landscape.

The second photo you'll see is of Debussy on picnic with his daughter, Claude-Emma, whom he adored and affectionately called Chouchou.
Debussy dedicated the entire Children's Corner Suite to Chouchou and would later dedicate a Ballet Suite, "La Boite a joujoux" ("The Toy Box" or "The Toy Shop", depending upon translation), to his beloved Claude-Emma, so named after her father, obviously, and mother, Emma Bardac.
Sadly, Chouchou passed away from diphtheria in 1919 at the young age of 13, only a year after Debussy's untimely death due to colon cancer.

Still, this Suite is considered to be one of Debussy's best compositions and it is certainly one of his most difficult to perform on piano; it is a beautiful example of what the master composer did to change the musical landscape forever. Caplet's transcription is wonderful and carries the symbolism of dear Debussy's work elegantly and with flair.

Enjoy!

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[lamazopa21]

Amazing orchestration of this classic piano piece.

[isayhi72]

Wow. Amazing! :)

[bartje11]

Great choice Billy. I love Caplet's orchestrations. Splendid.