A Supah-Quick Nod to Debussy's Sense of Humor

There's been an awful lot of slow, quiet music here at Forgotten Leaves, inc., so let's change that with the help of Debussy.  The Paris Conservatory had a tradition at the beginning of the last century of commissioning brand new audition pieces for each incoming class.  In 1904 they asked Debussy for a short piano piece, and in a fit of hilarious inspiration he gave them this:

(Click for larger view)

Now that's what I call Klassikal Komedy.  Employing his trademark impressionist tricks, Debussy makes sure the pianist is blindsided with rapid mood swings and Looney Tunes-esque timing.  As an entry piece it'd certainly be challenging enough for fledgling pianists brought up on Chopin and Liszt, and I doubt the Conservatory ever got an audition piece this wacky before or since.  Here's a recording, for yucks:

~PNK