Claude Debussy

Petite Suite

This critical edition of the Petite Suite is an excerpt from the COMPLETE WORKS OF CLAUDE DEBUSSY, Series I, volume 9.

The titles of the movements of the Petite Suite, 'Cortège' and 'Ballet', evoke the universe of both the Première Suite d'orchestre and Fêtes galantes by Paul Verlaine ('Cortège' and 'En bateau'), several poems from which Debussy began to set as early as 1882. The contract that Debussy signed with the editors Durand, Schoenewerk & Cie for the Petite Suite is dated 8 December 1888. The work appeared at the beginning of the following year; the 'dépôt legal', (legal deposit) of the work, was accomplished on 12 February 1889. It is difficult to believe that the Petite Suite, which became one of Durand's bestselling items during the composer's lifetime, was at first not appreciated by those who heard it.