Bidspirit auction | [MUSIC] - DEBUSSY Claude (1862

[MUSIC] - DEBUSSY Claude (1862 - 1918) - Creation Under Constraint: Debussy On “Jeux” And The Burden Of Illness - Autograph letter signed, dated “26 oct. 12” by the celebrated French composer. 1 p. in-4. Addressed to a gentleman, he refers to the commission he received for the music of “Jeux”, a ballet by V. Nijinsky that premiered on May 15, 1913. He still feels it is too early to answer the questions posed to him by the newspapers: “…Il y a beaucoup de choses dont je ne sais pas encore comment, ni de quoi, elle seront faites. Il m'a fallut chercher longuement et, malheureusement, je n'ai pas eu toujours une entière liberté, du fait brutal de la vie qui marche sans se soucier de nos combinaisons personnelles…”. He is evidently referring to the incurable illness he was already suffering from, which had limited his artistic output in the final years of his life. This letter belongs to the final creative phase of Debussy’s life, when he was working under increasing physical strain due to the illness that would eventually lead to his death. The reference to uncertainty and constraint reflects both the experimental nature of “Jeux” and the personal difficulties he faced. Autograph letters directly connected to specific compositions are particularly valued, especially when they reveal the composer’s creative doubts and working conditions. In this case, the association with a major Ballets Russes production adds further historical significance. •⁠> This lot is located in and ships from the UK. A UK export license is required prior to shipment. Import duties and taxes in the destination country are the buyer's responsibility.