Ex. 6-8: Nuit d'étoiles

Composed in 1880 when Debussy was 18. This was his first published work, issued by the Société artistique d'édition d'Estampes et de Musique in 1882. The poem is by Théodore de Banville (1823–1891), from his collection Les Stalactites.

The song is dedicated to Mme Moreau-Sainti, whose vocal class Debussy accompanied as a pianist. It was in this class that he met Marie-Blanche Vasnier, who would become an important figure in his early career.