Claude Debussy completed “Children’s Corner,” a suite of charming solo-piano sketches written for his three-year-old daughter, Claude-Emma, in 1908. I learned this novel ragtime piece from “Children’s Corner” while I was in high school and remember additional instruction on this piece from Miss Dorothy Spaulding, at the the Csehy’s Cedar Lake Music Camp (Cedar Lake (near Chicago), Indiana, USA) about 1967.
While researching background information for this posting, I was surprised to learn that the “Golliwogg” is a significantly controversial character, based on writing and original illustrations by Florence Kate Upton from the late 19th century. In her series of books featuring the Golliwogg, the character was portrayed and drawn as a “type of rag doll” based on a black-faced minstrel doll familiar to Ms. Upton as a child. Versions of the doll became popular both in Europe and in the United States. Debussy was obviously aware of the doll by the time he wrote the Cakewalk.
Still recovering from my surprise concerning the Golliwogg, I was again surprised by what I discovered concerning the “Cakewalk” dance. Originally, the dance was performed by slaves to mock their white masters’ dance forms and styles. Strangely, these performances became encouraged by the very masters who were being parodied. By the time of the minstrel shows of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, white minstrels in black-face makeup, performed the Cakewalk, satirizing the slave’s dances. This piece portrays a black-faced children’s rag-doll performing a minstrel dance—itself a parody of a parody…
There has been longstanding criticism of the Golliwogg for having been a racist caricature that promoted hateful stereotypes. I wonder what Debussy knew about “political correctness” in 1908?
I hope that you enjoy my performance of Golliwogg’s Cakewalk.
I played this as one of my recital pieces when I was in high school; I can still play parts of it by memory (though poorly). I must say that my rendition did not sound anywhere near as good as yours.
Enjoyed reading the information and your outstanding playing and recording. Like having you in the room – great work, bro!
Golly, golly, golly! It’s a Golliwog!
Loved the performance and the whole history of the Golliwog Cakewalk was fascinating stuff – I, like Steve Miller (Gangster of Love), was not familiar with the Big G but I am now! :>)
I did not associate Debussy with “popular Music.” This was interesting and informative. The music was great and the information on the Golliwog history was good. I had never heard of the Golliwog actually, though I had heard of Little Black Sambo. I was surprised to learn that Agatha Christie had written her book with that title. Interesting…