Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
It is one of Debussy's most famous works and is considered a turning point in the history of Western art music, as well as a masterpiece of Impressionist composition.Then, tired of pursuing the timorous flight of nymphs and naiads, he succumbs to intoxicating sleep, in which he can finally realize his dreams of possession in universal Nature.[This prelude] was [Debussy's] musical response to the poem of Stephane Mallarmé (1842–1898), in which a faun playing his pan-pipes alone in the woods becomes aroused by passing nymphs and naiads, pursues them unsuccessfully, then wearily abandons himself to a sleep filled with visions.[9] The Prélude at first listening seems improvisational and almost free-form; however, closer observation will demonstrate that the piece consists of a complex organization of musical cells, motifs carefully developed and traded between members of the orchestra.Recurring tools in Debussy's compositional arsenal make appearances in this piece: extended whole-tone scale runs, harmonic fluidity without lengthy modulations between central keys, and tritones in both melody and harmony.In 1912, the piece was made into a short ballet, with costumes and sets by painter Léon Bakst, which was choreographed and performed by the renowned dancer Vaslav Nijinsky.
Claude DebussyAfternoon of a Faun (Nijinsky)L'après-midi d'un faune (poem)Afternoon of a Faun (disambiguation)Symphonic poemL'après-midi d'un fauneStéphane MallarméGustave DoretGeorges BarrèreorchestraWestern art musicImpressionistPierre Boulezmodern musicAfternoon of a FaunVaslav Nijinskylater versionJerome RobbinsnymphsnaiadsPaul ValéryLéon Bakstflutescor anglaisclarinetsbassoonscrotalesstringstone poemorchestrationeroticismimprovisationalmusical cellsmotifswoodwindsaccompanimentwhole-tone scalemodulationstritonesmelodyharmonychromatictritonedevelopmentvoicingsclarinetcrescendolegatoviolaschromaticismAfternoon of a Faun (Robbins)another balletThomas MannThe Magic MountaingramophoneBruno BozzettoAllegro non troppotranscribedMaurice RavelGustave SamazeuilhPierrot ensembleIntroduction and AllegroVyacheslav GryaznovArnold SchoenbergSociety for Private Musical PerformancesBoulez, PierreOxfordOxford University PressValéry, PaulJames R. LawlerLondonRoutledge & Kegan PaulDumesnil, MauriceWestport, ConnecticutBurkhart, CharlesClassic FMYouTubeInternet ArchiveInternational Music Score Library ProjectRichard FreedEtcetera RecordsImpressionist musicJohn IrelandGabriel PiernéBitonal chordsParallel chordsPentatonic scalesWhole tone scaleCydalise et le Chèvre-piedJeux d'eauL'isle joyeuseLa merNocturnesPréludesModernism (music)Romantic musicList of compositionsRodrigue et ChimènePelléas et MélisandeLe diable dans le beffroiLa chute de la maison UsherKhammaLa boîte à joujouxImagesL'enfant prodigueFantaisie for piano and orchestraPremière rhapsodieRhapsodie for saxophone and orchestraPiano TrioString QuartetDances for Harp and String OrchestraSyrinx for fluteSix sonatas for various instrumentsCello SonataTwo ArabesquesValse romantiqueSuite bergamasquePour le pianoEstampesMasquesReflets dans l'eauChildren's CornerThe Little NigarVoilesDes pas sur la neigeCe qu'a vu le vent d'ouest