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Late Romantic and Impressionist · character piece

Jimbo's Lullaby, Children's Corner No. 2

Claude Debussy · Level 5, estimated · With Maestro

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The short answer

Debussy left a performance of this piece on a piano roll. Jimbo's Lullaby, Children's Corner No. 2 is a character piece by Claude Debussy from the Late Romantic and Impressionist era. PlayPiano puts it at Level 5, an estimate.

On this page
  • character piece
  • Late Romantic and Impressionist
  • dreamy
  • gentle
  • block chords
  • hand independence
  • voicing

Also known as CD 119 No. 2; Children's Corner - Jimbo's Lullaby; FL 119 No. 2; Jimbo's Lullaby: Children's Corner No. 2; L. 113 No. 2 (older Lesure numbering).

History

Jimbo's Lullaby is among the six Children's Corner pieces Debussy recorded for Welte-Mignon roll WM 2733. The surviving mechanical performance links this piece directly to its composer at the keyboard.

Sources

What to listen for

  1. A low solo voice

    The upper staff is silent. A low F-D gesture begins the piece; listen to its broad, gently awkward shape.

  2. A broad answering phrase

    The low line moves through C and D to a longer F, then returns. Let the longer note have room without losing the pulse.

  3. A gentle continuation

    The low melody settles around C, D and F while the upper staff remains silent. Listen to the small changes within the restrained opening.

  4. A new colour above

    Short F-G pairs appear above the held low D. Notice how the new upper sound changes the texture after three bars of low melody.

How to practise it

Give the low opening line clear rhythm and direction before adding later texture.

  1. Treat the low line as the musical focus.
  2. Distinguish its long and short notes.
  3. Keep the upper rests silent.

How hard is it

Level 5, estimated

The inspected low opening contour, later paired upper notes and quiet markings make control of register, balance and sustained attention central to this intermediate proposal.

About this piece

Interpretive sketch of Claude Debussy, an illustration and not a verified likeness
An illustration, not a portrait
Collection
French piano colors
Licence
CC0
Source
musescore.com

More by Claude Debussy

  1. The Little Shepherd, Children's Corner No. 5Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
  2. Clair de lune, Suite bergamasque, L. 75Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
  3. La cathédrale engloutie, Préludes I No. 10Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro

With Maestro

Play it, slow it down, hear where you land

Give the low opening line clear rhythm and direction before adding later texture.

Practise it in PlayPiano