In 1909, Gabriel Fauré, Director of the Paris Conservatoire, named Debussy to its board of directors (le Conseil Supérieur). One of Debussy's first duties was to supply two works for the next year's clarinet examinations. The Rhapsodie was first performed as part of the examinations on July 14, 1910. The original composition was for clarinet and piano; Debussy published his own orchestration of the accompaniment in 1911, after the official premiere with Mimart.

Original Name Première Rhapsodie
Date of composition 1910 (1909-1910; orchestrated in 1911)
Premiered 1910, July 14th
First published 1910
Type Rhapsody
Catalogue L. 116
Instruments Clarinet
Piano
Autotranslations beta Claude Debussy: First Rhapsody, L. 116
Claude Debussy: First Rhapsody, L. 116
Claude Debussy: First Rhapsody, L. 116