Debussy - Jimbo's Lullaby - Children's Corner Suite

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

Perhaps not a "Lullaby" in the truest sense, the lower registers of the piano used throughout keeping the piece somewhat dark or ominous, but the piece still soothes, perhaps ironically, as Debussy loved to turn the established on it's head.
The orchestrated version here will require you to turn up the volume quite a bit for the first minute as Caplet held to Debussy's lower registers for the opening of his transcription; the piece does pick up in resonance around 1:09 in order to better display Debussy's wonderful melody.

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!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Claude
• Debussy
• Jimbo's
• Lullaby
• Childrens
• Children's
• Corner
• Suite
• Orchestra
• Charles
• Dutoit
• Montreal
• Symphony
• Andre
• Caplet
• Transcription
• Transcribed
• Orchestrated
• Classical
• Music

[Berus777]

This music is perfect for children - dark, brooding, with complex melody and counterpoint. It also has an intermittently sinister feel which imparts a sense of trepidation and doom, alternating with moments of forlorn longing. Yes, this is absolutely perfect for children.

[msartteacher6]

So dark, and yet, delicate at the same time.

[xkaliburpro]

OK guys, I think we're missing the point here. Your right it sounds kinda creepy and all for us...but this was written for an elephant named Jumbo. I'm sure you can imagine this piece putting the elephant into some deep dream or trance. =)

[MuSixramper]

I love this song...so that's why I have a version of this played by my in my channel...please check it out!

[Sshelly34213]

@dvc5797 I'm sorry, society is cruel in that regard. It's not fair for men to have that label when there are plenty of women who have done such horrible things like sleep with their students.

[dvc5797]

@Sshelly34213 I'm sympathetic to your complaint. We men live in fear of the label 'pedophile'. Best that we not show children too much attention.

[Sshelly34213]

@TechnoEstate Um...excuse me?? I'm a 22 year old female and it was up until 5 years ago that I was a kid myself. Can you please remove this discussion comment and accusation? If not I will spam it, I refuse to be called a pedophile. You don't throw that word around like it's anything...Jesus what the hell is wrong with you?

I meant it's probably interesting to kids because it's very lyrical and kids love the simplicity of lyricism.

[cristianoboe]

The Oboe solo at the begining is very beutiful 

[vibrohm]

@Berus777 xD 

[Sshelly34213]

@Berus777 lol...not sure if that's irony or what, but I think kids absolutely adore music like that. It catches their ear and hooks them in.

[giuseppeilgrande]

yes it's true!!