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Golliwog's Cake Walk
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Golliwog's Cake Walk
Claire de Lune

 

This splendid, very well known musical jaunt, Golliwog's Cake Walk, was composed in 1906-8, by Claude Debussy as the sixth item in a suite called Children's Corner. Claude was one of the foremost French composers of his day, and had a profound influence on his contemporaries, including Arthur Sullivan. Arthur would, of course, have missed this masterpiece, published after his death, but W S Gilbert must have heard it and would surely have been impressed. Written for Claude's daughter, the titles of the 6 pieces are:

  1. Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum
    bulletA reference to 'Steps to Parnassus'
     - the abode of the muses. 
    bulletJ J Fux's treatise on counterpoint with this title. 
    bulletClaude parodied one of Clementi's 100 studies.
  2. Jimbo's Lullaby
    bullet'Jimbo' is Claude's mistake for Jumbo
  3. Serenade for the doll
  4. Snow is Dancing
  5. The Little Shepherd
  6. Golliwog's Cakewalk
    bulletCakewalk is defined in our dictionary as:
    A dance developed from a prancing movement
    once performed by American Negroes in 
    competition for a cake. Something 
    accomplished with supreme ease.

The Golliwog's Cakewalk is strongly influenced by Claude's interest in Jazz. Composed as a piano piece, it has since been orchestrated by other composers. Listen to those sparkling harmonies and rhythms and join in the 'dance' with Claude (and the American Negroes). Or, better still, get a copy of the whole suite and listen to it (or play it) yourself. 

 

Whatever your propensity, we hope you enjoy our MusicSmiles arrangement of Claude's masterpiece the  - Golliwog's Cakewalk . . .

 

Click here to visit Clair de Lune. . .

 


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© Music arranged and 'performed' by Dr J Eric Ashton

Copyright © Dr J Eric Ashton 27 September 2010 . All Rights Reserved.

This site was last updated on 27 September 2010 .

 

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