The suite is in six
movements, each with an English-language title. This choice of language is most likely Debussy's nod towards Chou-Chou's English governess. The pieces are:
4. The Snow Is Dancing This piece features soft, syncopated alternation of the hands. Again, there are darker moments in the bass near the middle. It portrays snow and muted objects seen through it.
5. The Little Shepherd "The Little Shepherd" depicts a shepherd with his flute. There are three solos and three commentaries following them. The first solo has a breath mark at the end. This piece has different modes in it and uses dissonances, which resolve into tonality.
6. Golliwogg's Cakewalk {{Image frame|content= \header { tagline = ##f } upper = \relative c'' { \clef treble \key ees \major \time 2/4 \tempo 4 = 100 \tempo "Presto" %\autoBeamOff \mf aes8 bes16 f8-. bes-. aes16-> f8 ees16 ces8-. ees-. } \\ { \repeat unfold 2 { r8 8 } \repeat unfold 2 { r8 ces8 } } >> bes16^> bes8^. c16\8\arpeggio\sff bes,2-^ } lower = \relative c { \clef bass \key ees \major \time 2/4 \repeat unfold 4 {8 8 } \repeat unfold 4 {8 8 } } \score { \new PianoStaff > \layout { indent = 0 \context { \Score \remove "Metronome_mark_engraver" } } \midi { } } |caption=Bars 10–13}} {{Image frame|content= \layout { \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t } { \new PianoStaff 8-.[ \acciaccatura{\slurUp c} \once \stemDown -. \acciaccatura{\slurUp d} \once \stemDown -.] r8 \acciaccatura{\slurUp d} \once \stemDown 8-.[ \acciaccatura{\slurUp c} \once \stemDown -. \acciaccatura{\slurUp d} \once \stemDown -.] } \new Voice \relative c' { \voiceTwo s8 a4(~ a4. bes8 2) } >> \new Staff -.[ 8-. 8-.] } \new Voice \relative c { \voiceTwo es,8([ f ges] a[ bes ces c] 2)} >> r8 8-.[ 8-. 8-.] } >> >> } |width=410|caption=Four measures of "Golliwogg's Cakewalk" that
quote the opening of
Richard Wagner's
Tristan und Isolde}} At the time of its composition,
golliwoggs were in fashion, due partly to the popularity at that time of the novels of
Florence Kate Upton ("golliwog" is a later usage). They were stuffed black dolls with red pants, red bow ties and wild hair, reminiscent of the
blackface minstrel shows of the time. The
cakewalk was a dance or a strut, and the dancer with the most elaborate steps won a cake ("took the cake"). The piece is a
ragtime with its syncopations and banjo-like effects. The dynamic range is quite large and very effective. During the piece, Debussy alludes satirically to
Richard Wagner's opera
Tristan und Isolde. The opening bars turn the famous
half-diminished Tristan chord into a jaunty,
syncopated arpeggio, while the middle 'B' section of this dance is interrupted on several occasions by the
love-death leitmotif, marked
avec une grande émotion (with great feeling). Each quotation is followed by banjo imitations. Debussy composed one more piece in the same style a year later, "
The Little Nigar", as part of a piano method. == Orchestrations and arrangements ==