DEBUSSY, CLAUDE. (1862-1918). French avant¬-garde composer; creator of La Mer, Pelléas et Mélisande, Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun and other masterpieces. DS. (“Cl. Debussy” and “ClD”). 1p. Small 4to. Paris, February 21, 1891. In French. A partially-printed contract between Debussy and French music publisher Éditions Choudens, for the French and foreign rights of his Suite Bergamasque, the third movement of which, Clair de Lune, has become one of the most famous melodies of all time.

Debussy’s compositions mark the beginning in a series of attacks on the traditional musical language of the 19th century, and, as such, became a seminal force in the avant¬-garde music of the 20th. In 1890, Debussy, then just 28, began work on a four-part piano suite, the third movement of which was inspired by Paul Verlaine’s poem Clair de lune, a composition that would become one of his and the world’s best-loved works. As evidenced by our contract, Debussy sold the manuscript, now lost, to Édition Choudens for 200 francs, but it was not until 1905 that Eugene Fromont published the work. Because of this agreement with Choudens, Debussy never earned another sous from the publication of arguably his most famous and most published score.

At the time he signed our contract, Debussy was struggling financially. “‘It’s tough, one’s daily bread,’ he admitted to Robert Godet especially because during that same year the major publisher Choudens paid him only 200 francs for his own Suite bergamasque. Not wanting to teach, perform, or accept many commissions, unfortunately he died owing [French music publisher Jacques] Durand 66,235 francs,” (“Debussy the Man, His Music, and His Legacy,” Notes, Pasler).

Éditions Choudens, publisher of Berlioz, Gounod’s Faust and Bizet’s Carmen, was under the management of brothers Antony Choudens (1849-1902) and Paul Choudens (1850-1925), sons of the eponymous founder, one of whom has signed with Debussy in the document’s lower margin. Interestingly, above Choudens’ signature is the note, “retrocede a Mr. Hartmann,” a reference to Debussy’s friend and patron, the publisher Georges Hartmann (1843-1900) whose own company went bankrupt a year earlier. In 1895, Hartmann obtained the rights to all of Debussy’s works for a monthly stipend of 500 francs and it is possible that this contract was “returned” to Hartmann when Choudens ended its publishing relationship with Debussy.

Debussy has initialed the revenue stamp in the left margin. Lightly age-toned with a few scattered creases and pin holes in the left margin and trimmed along the bottom edge, though not affecting any text. In fine condition.