Le Petit Negre

The Little Negro was originally composed by Claude Debussy (1862-1918) for piano in 1909. The purpose was to write a great work that could also played by children. Eugene Bozza made the piece even more accessible in 1984 by arranging it for wind quintet. The Little Negro is marked Allegro and begins with a theme modelled on ragtime music, a style which was very popular at the time of composition. Jazz influences, the C major key signature, 2/4 meter and upbeat features make for an exciting and accessible piece for all the ensemble. Bozza's arrangement of Debussy's The Little Negro for a wind quintet made up of flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon and horn is a thrilling addition to the repertoire.