Claude Debussy (1862-1918) was a 20th century French composer and one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionistic music.

His Sonate pour violoncelle et piano was part of his project Six Sonates pour divers instruments. This sonata was the first of the late group of sonatas begin in 1915.

A curious anecdote surrounds this piece. The cellist Louis Rosoor claimed in program notes that Debussy had linked the music to Pierrot, the melancholic character from the commedia dell’arte, and had intended to name the work Pierrot Angry at the Moon. Rosoor described a vivid narrative where Pierrot sings to his beloved moon, only to find his serenade unanswered, leading him to a defiant song of liberty. However, Debussy himself refuted this interpretation in a letter to Durand on October 16, 1916, explaining that Rosoor had misunderstood both the composer and his music.

While the Sonate pour violoncelle et piano may not carry the imaginative title suggested by Rosoor, its enigmatic and expressive nature invites the listener to find their own stories within its captivating textures and moods.