This piece is a symphonic poem that was inspired by a poem debussy was fond of by poet stephane mallarme, titled lapresmidi dun faune. The prelude is essentially a ternary form piece with a coda. Debussys prelude a lapresmidi dun faune prelude to the afternoon of a faun drew from stephane mallarme s poem lapresmidi dun faune. Prelude to the afternoon of a faun is a musical evocation of stephane mallarme s poem afternoon of a faun, in which a fauna halfman, halfgoat creature of ancient greek legendawakes to revel in sensuous memories of forest nymphs. In 1912, in paris, vaslav nijinski created his first choreography for the avantgarde company ballet. Prelude to the afternoon of a faun by debussy survey. But, the other, all sighs, do you say she contrasts like a breeze of hot day in your fleece. The afternoon of a faun, written by french author stephane mallarme in 1876, details the experience of a mythical faun who has just awoken to the faces of two nymphs. Debussy first set a poem by mallarme to music in 1884, at the age of 22. It begins as the faun wakes from a dream and while playing a long solo on his flute, he tries to remember whether he was visited by 3 forest nymphs or whether he dreamed it. Music and poetry in mallarme and debussy ubc library open. He was strongly affected by the early deaths of his mother, and younger sister, and later by that of his father.
Prelude a lapresmidi dun faune online programme notes. Memory and tonality in debussysprelude a lapresmidi dun faune example 7 once again the csharp focus is balanced with e centricity the csharp because we have already heard it twice before as the initial pitchclass of this. Debussy prelude to the afternoon of a faun analysis essay. The work is considered a quintessential example of musical impressionism, a compositional style popular at the turn of the 20th. An analysis of the harmonic unity of debussys prelude a l. Debussys most dramatic contribution to music history was his disregard for traditional chord structures and tonality. Bars 154 a bars 5578 b bars 7993 a bars 94110 coda it is noteworthy that the reprise of the a section is much shorter than its previous appearance. A second version, improvisa tion dun faune, was rejected by the troisieme parnasse contempo rain in 1875. Faun, the illusion flees from the cold, blue eyes of the chaster nymph like a fountain gushing tears.
But the other, all in sighs, you say, compares to a hot wind through the fleece that blows at noon. And that to the prelude where the pipes first stir this flight of swans, no. Prelude to the afternoon of a faun claude debussy born august 22, 1862, saintgermainenlaye, france. Prelude a lapresmidi dun faune prelude to the afternoon of a faun is a symphonic poem for orchestra by claude debussy, first performed in paris in 1894. Cd track list track 01 prelude a lapresmidi dun faune entire, claude debussy 02 measures 5455 03 measures 2930 04 measure 05 measures 5051 06 measures 105106 07 measures 7982 08 measures 108110 09 measure 18 10 measures 45 11 measure 98 12 measure 27 measures 4849 14 measure 1 15 measure 11. Debussy prelude to the afternoon of a faun violin excerpts. Nov 18, 2011 leonard bernstein conducts claude debussys prelude to the afternoon of a faun extract from the unanswered question, boston symphony orchestra check my c. His works, which abound in complex symbols and images, seek to represent states of mind rather than ideas, express moods rather than tell stories. Claude 1862debussy 1918 stephane mallarme 18421898 was one of the greatest innovators in the history of french poetry. The music itself tells the tale of the mythical faun, playing his pipes alone in the woods. Prelude to the afternoon of a faun, french prelude a lapresmidi dun faune, tone poem for orchestra by claude debussy.
Faun, the illusion escapes from the blue eyes and cold, like a spring in tears, of the chaster one. Prelude a lapresmidi dun faune known in english as prelude to the afternoon of a faun, is a symphonic poem for orchestra by claude debussy, approximately 10 minutes in duration. The breakdown of this structure can be seen in the table below. Prelude to the afternoon of a faun signaled a new era in compositional style and intent, even though that new style was not to everyones liking. It describes the dreams of a faun, a mythical halfhuman, halfgoat figure, in the afternoon heat. Notes this file is part of the sibley mirroring project. This 10 minute symphonic poem begins and ends with a flute solo, the story circle nicely complete. Impressionist style and creates pictures of the dreams and fantasies of a forest creature who is half man half goat. So brighttheir crimson flesh that hovers there light. He had hoped that it would be performed at the comedie franaise, but it was refused. He was one of the most important figures in music at the turn of the 20th century. The composition was inspired by the poem lapresmidi dun faune by stephane mallarme, and later formed the basis for a ballet choreographed by vaslav nijinsky.
Inert, all burns in the fierce hour nor marks by what art all at once bolted. Inspired in the poem lapresmidi dun faune by stephane mallarme, the piece quickly became one of debussys most famous works, and it is nowadays. Instead, i argue for a more nuanced paradigm that values both concurrences and antagonisms between the two media, in light of the specific systems of thought characterizing, respectively. Achilleclaude debussy 22nd august 1862 25th march 1918 was a french composer.
My dissertation reevaluates music and poetry in the works of claude debussy and stephane mallarme. In slightly more than a hundred lines, it presents the dreamlike erotic reveries of a faun a mythical creature of. Rather there is a succession of scenes through which pass the desires and dreams of the faun in the heat of the afternoon. It was first performed in paris on 22 december 1894, conducted by gustave doret. From the dreamy opening flute tune, the sleepy calm of an afternoon in the forest is evoked through smooth melodies and almost improvisatory passages. Afternoon of a faun by claude debussy 1862 1918 to our jaded twentyfirst century ears, which have heard the results of a century of musical upheaval, debussys miraculously delicate prelude to the afternoon of a faun would seem an unlikely work to call revolutionary. Much of his poetry was acknowledged to be difficult to understand because of its tortuous syntax, ambiguous expressions, and obscure imagery. Notwithstanding the somewhat obscure text of the poem, the composer has accompanied it with delicate, expressive, and graceful music significant to the sensuous, pleasureloving nature.
If youre interested, here is an english translation of the mallarme poem upon which debussy based his composition. Memory and tonality in debussys prelude a lapresmidi dun. Bars 154 a bars 5578 b bars 7993 a bars 94110 coda. Debussy prelude to the afternoon of a faun download free. Debussy and prelude a lapresmidi dun faune flashcards. Debussy revised the score for performance on two pianos in 1895. In slightly more than a hundred lines, it presents the dreamlike erotic reveries of a fauna mythical creature of. But in the end, for reasons best known to himself, debussy decided to combine all his thoughts on the poem to just one single. Instead, i argue for a more nuanced paradigm that values both concurrences and antagonisms between the two media, in light of the specific systems of thought. The afternoon of a faun, but the full orchestral score debussy finished on october 23, 1894, contained only the prelude. See all 11 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. His poetry became highly influential in france and beyond.
Stephane mallarme was recognized as one of frances four major poets of the second half of the 19th century, along with charles baudelaire, paul verlaine, and arthur rimbaud. See more ideas about faun, afternoon of a faun, russian ballet. Lapresmidi dun faune or the afternoon of a faun is a poem by the french author stephane mallarme. Prelude to an afternoon of a faun london symphony artist, previn, a. After learning english in london in 18623, he worked for most of his life as an english teacher, at first in the provinces and later in paris. The prelude, afternoon of a faun, suggested by the symbolic poem of mallarme, lapresmidi dun faune, was performed for the first time in paris, in 1894. The afternoon of a faun is stephane mallarmes most wellknown poem. Debussy afternoon of a faun for tuba or bass trombone arranger ralph sauer from cherry classics music in pdf digital download or print sheet music. Debussy afternoon of a faun solo for tuba or bass trombone.
While both pieces were written in europe in the 1890s, they sound drastically different. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. He is enchanted by nymphs and naiads and drifts off to sleep filled with colourful dreams. The afternoon of a faun eclogue lapresmidi dun faune or the afternoon of a faun is a poem by the french author stephane mallarme. Prelude to the afternoon of a faun work by debussy. Mallarme first heard this music in debussys apartment, where the composer played his score at the piano.
It was composed in 1894 and first performed in paris on 22 december 1894, conducted by gustave doret. Debussy was celebrated as one of the taking composers of that epoch. Schubert used this same progression in reverse in his great c major symphony. Claude debussy, prelude a lapresmidi dun faune youtube. The poems musicality inspired claude debussy to compose prelude to the afternoon of a faun in 1894. Pdf scanned by alan850627 alan850627 2015124 pub lisher. After learning english in london in 18623, he worked for most of his life as an english teacher, at first in. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website.
Intro to fine arts 3 intro to fine humanistic disciplines. Other articles where lapresmidi dun faune is discussed. Some saw it as a liberation from the weighty textures and teutonic mythology that wagnerism had spread over much european music. Claude debussy originally intended to write a set of three pieces to include an interlude and a paraphrase finale. This version is for solo flute with piano accompaniment. Originally released 1972 sony music entertainment inc. The original orchestral version was completed in 1894, and debussy reworked it for performance on two pianos in 1895. The work is considered an example of impressionism as a musical style. One of his expressive 20th century pieces, titled prelude to the afternoon of a faun, was written in 1894 and is a prime example of debussys innovative use of atonality and chromaticism. Faun, illusion escapes from the blue eye, cold, like a fount of tears, of the most chaste.
Prelude to the afternoon of a faun leopold stokowskis symphony orchestra, leopold stokowski. Prelude a lapresmidi dun faune based on a poem by stephane mallarme, debussys symphonic poem for orchestra was first performed in 1894. Start studying debussy and prelude a lapresmidi dun faune. Cd track list track 01 prelude a lapresmidi dun faune entire, claude debussy 02 measures 5455 03 measures 2930 04 measure 05 measures 5051.
First edition, with composers penciled corrections dated 3 july 1895. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The work is considered a quintessential example of musical impressionism, a compositional style popular at the turn of the 20th century that was. Stephane mallarme wrote the first version of this poem, monologue dun faune, in 1865. Lapresmidi dun faune poem by stephane mallarme poem hunter. Debussys prelude to the afternoon of a faun prelude to the afternoon of a faun is claude debussys musical composing for an orchestra that lasts for approximately 10 proceedingss. Prelude to the afternoon of a faun prelude a lapresmidi dun faune in its original french is a symphonic poem for orchestra written by claude debussy, and first performed in 1894.
Often in such collaborations, critics assume that the music mimics various aspects of the texts it engages. The flute solo was played by georges barrere the composition was inspired by the poem lapresmidi. Stephane mallarme the afternoon of a faun eclogue eng. Lapresmidi dun faune the afternoon of a faun stephane mallarmes eclogue lapresmidi dun faune the afternoon of a faun was published in 1876. Its interesting, too, that in the norton critical scores, debussy. Stephane mallarme the afternoon of a faun translators note. Symbolist french poems apparition et lapresmidi dun. Prelude a lapresmidi dun faune debussy, claude imslp. Stephane mallarme as faun prelude to the afternoon of a faun signaled a new era in compositional style and intent, even though that new style was not to everyones liking. It describes the sensual experiences of a faun who has just woken up from his afternoon sleep and discusses his encounters with several nymphs during the morning in a dreamlike monologue. The music of this prelude is a very free illustration of mallarmes beautiful poem. Prelude to the afternoon of a faun mus 101 elliott jones.
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