"THE GIRL WITH THE FLAXEN HAIR" by Claude Debussy (performed by Gabriel Michaud)

For more information about the instruments, mallets and stands, please use the comments section. More first-class performances by world-class soloists? Then subscribe to our channel: / kolbergpercussion ______________________ THE PIECE “The Girl with the Flaxen Hair” is a solo piano piece composed by Claude Debussy in 1910. It is the eighth prelude from his first book of Préludes and is one of his most beloved and frequently performed works. The piece was completed in January 1910, published in April of the same year, and received its premiere on 2 June 1910 at Bechstein Hall (now Wigmore Hall) in London. “The Girl with the Flaxen Hair” – originally titled La fille aux cheveux de lin – takes its name from a poem of the same title by the French poet Leconte de Lisle, published in 1852 as part of his Chansons écossaises (Scottish Songs). The poem portrays a gentle, innocent young woman with beautiful pale golden (“flaxen”) hair, sitting in a flowering meadow on a bright summer morning. Despite being written during Debussy’s highly impressionistic period, the prelude is remarkable for its striking simplicity and purity. Rather than complex harmonies or virtuosic display, Debussy creates an atmosphere of tenderness, lightness, and quiet lyricism through a folk-like melody, subtle pentatonic elements, and soft parallel chords. Debussy himself never provided a detailed explanation of the piece, but its emotional character perfectly captures the poem’s mood of innocent beauty and gentle joy. At only about 39 bars long and lasting roughly two and a half minutes, it remains one of his most accessible and emotionally touching compositions. ______________________ GABRIEL MICHAUD Among other international awards, Gabriel is the 1st prize, audience prize and press prize winner of the last TROMP Competition, as well as the 2nd prize of the International Percussion Competition Luxembourg in 2022. In 2025, he added another major achievement to his growing list of accolades by winning First Prize at the IPEA International Percussion Competition in Shanghai. After a bachelor at the Haute École de Musique de Genève, he now studies a master degree at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris. A complete musician with eclectic influences, Gabriel studied jazz and composition and writes for chamber music groups as well as electronic music. He is regularly invited to perform in Europe as a chamber music artist or as a solo recitalist. As an official Kolberg Artist, he is now part of our vision and family, inspiring us with his virtuosity and energy when he plays. Have a look at his personal channel: @gabrielmichaud2663 _____________________ KOLBERG PERCUSSION Percussion instruments and orchestral equipment for world-class sounds - this has been the passion of the German manufacturer for over 50 years. In addition to a globally unique portfolio of percussion instruments and mallets made in-house, Bernhard Kolberg developed the "combination stand system", which is still unique today and allows multi-percussionists and orchestral percussionists to combine instruments tailor-made for every occasion and every work. Customers include the world's most prominent soloists, orchestras and colleges. More about Kolberg Percussion: https://www.kolberg.com/en/ ______________________ Follow us now! For World-Class Performances on Youtube: / kolbergpercussion Instagram: / kolbergpercussion Facebook: / kolberggermany ______________________ THANKS TO Audio by: https://adrian-von-ripka.com/ Video by: https://www.philo-media.de/