Exploring Claude Debussy's Première Rhapsodie with Stuart King

One of the most influential French composers of the first half of the 20th Century, Claude Debussy wrote music that was quintessentially French. Full of wit as well as exquisite timbre and texture, Debussy created music that stood as the antithesis of the prevailing Germanic traditions championed by the 'establishment'. His election to the Conseil Supérieur of the Paris Conservatoire in 1909 went a long way to changing the direction of French music in the years ahead. 

One of the first duties he carried out in this role was writing two test pieces for the annual Solo de Concours for clarinet. André Messager had previously written a piece for the 1899 competition but Debussy's Première Rhapsodie is a work of infinite more delicacy, musicality and panache. It is a true test of any clarinettist's breath control, stamina, finger-work and musical sensibility but more than that it stands as a ravishing work for the concert hall by a composer at the peak of his power. 

Sadly Debussy had but a handful of years left before his death in 1918. If only this had been the first of many Rhapsodies rather than a lone orphan.