French pianist and impressionist composer Claude Debussy wrote no shortage of impactfully beautiful works. Première Rhapsodie for clarinet and piano is no exception. Debussy leans on his knowledge of French-style clarinet playing to compose a masterpiece full of rewarding feats. The piece challenges the player to play delicately at a soft volume while still delivering intensity and emotion. It was written to serve as a mandatory competition piece for clarinet students at the Paris Conservatoire. Commissioned after his election to the school’s board, it was designed to test students’ technical proficiency, tone and artistic nuance, becoming a major twentieth-century work.