This piece follows the tale of a mythical faun who plays his pipes in the woods alone. Enchanted by nymphs and naiads, he drifts off to sleep, entering into colourful dreams. The calm afternoon in the forest is evoked through a dreamy opening flute tune with smooth melodies and almost improvisatory passages.
Composer
Claude Debussy (Aug 1862 – Mar 1918)
Composed In
1894
Duration
12 minutes
Instrumentation
3 flutes, 2 oboes and English horn, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 harps, antique cymbals, strings
Summary
Inspired by Stéphane Mallarmé’s poem L’après-midi d’un faune, Claude Debussy wrote Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune (Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun) in 1894 as a symphonic poem for orchestra. This piece was a huge turning point in music as Debussy stretched the traditional system of keys and tonalities to the limits, inspiring many great musicians including Leonard Bernstein and Boulez in turn.
About the Composition
