La Damoiselle Elue for flute nonet

Debussy was inspired by Rossetti’s poem “The Blessed Damozel” to compose his cantata for soprano soloist, 2-part children’s choir, 2-part female choir, and orchestra that premiered in Paris in 1893. It’s interesting to acknowledge that he wrote in a letter to Andre Poniatowski in 1892 that he had wanted to compose “a little oratorio in a little pagan mystical note.” This arrangement for nine flutists is a nice addition to the flute ensemble repertoire, providing a different dimension to a typical program.

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