Debussy signed a contract for the Egyptian ballet Khamma with Canadian dancer Maud Allan in 1910, originally titled Isis, without his publisher's knowledge, leading to disputes.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Debussy's scores all went through a notational stage, known as a 'short score', which could be performed reasonably accurately on a piano.
Critical Reception
Debussy's general unhappiness with the Khamma project negatively affected subsequent critical responses to the score, despite it being one of his most poetic and forward-looking works.
Composition History
The three piano versions recorded on this album were closely linked to both the compositional and production processes of Debussy's ballets.
Composition History
Debussy never heard Khamma, which premiered in concert in 1924, six years after his death.
Critical Reception
The premiere of Jeux on May 15, 1913, was met with incomprehension, and it was overshadowed by the scandalous premiere of Le Sacre du printemps two weeks later, leading to its obscurity until the 1950s.
Compositional Technique
In Khamma, dissonant trumpet calls that evoke a shiver are eventually made consonant when the city's siege is lifted, a feature that stands out in the work.
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