Lagniappe*

Here, just because, is Claude Debussy’s La cathédrale engloutie (The Engulfed Cathedral) (5:09).

*la·gniappe [lan-yap, lan-yap]
noun
1. Chiefly Southern Louisiana and Southeast Texas. a small gift given with a purchase to a customer, by way of compliment or for good measure; bonus.
2. a gratuity or tip.
3. an unexpected or indirect benefit.

Origin: 1840–50, Americanism; < Louisiana French < American Spanish la ñapa the addition, equivalent to la feminine definite article + ñapa, variant of yapa < Quechua**: that which is added

**Quech·ua [-wah, -wuh]
noun, plural Quech·uas (especially collectively) Quech·ua for 2.
1. the language of the Inca civilization, presently spoken by about 7 million people in Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina.
2. a member of an Indian people of Peru speaking Quechua.

I must say I am surprised to learn that the origin of lagniappe is not French but Spanish, by way of the Inca civilization. If you ask me, it’s downright Pizarro bizarre.

Here’s Claude Debussy.

Here’s Francisco Pizarro.










And here, for those of you who are still with me, is a little something extra***.

***Fantaisie-Impromptu in C sharp minor, op. 66 by Frédéric Chopin (5:14)

P.S. -- If you watch that last video and think you hear “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows” in the middle of it -- you’re right!