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Claude Debussy - Jeux
for Chamber Orchestra Claude Debussy (1862-1918) composed Jeux (Games) in 1912 as a ballet score for Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. The piece was choreographed by Vaslav Nijinsky, and premiered in Paris in May 1913. It features three dancers (a man and two girls) who meet at night while searching for a tennis ball. They play, argue and embrace before disappearing. Debussy's score is one of his most complex, using short thematic cells that are constantly altered and developed, with numerous tempo changes. The often transparent approach to the orchestration, lightness of touch and soloistic nature of the scoring lends itself well to a reduced ensemble. By including many of the original instruments in a suitable size orchestra, the work can be effectively conveyed with little loss of variety and colour. Available to purchase or hire from Aria Editions here Instrumentation: Piccolo (Flute), Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, 2 Percussion (timpani, triangle, tambourine, suspended cymbal, clash cymbals, xylophone), Harp, 2 Violin I, 2 Violin II, 2 Viola, 2 Violoncello, Double Bass. Strings can be single players or a section Listen to a performance of the arrangement: Debussy - Jeux (17'57) |