THIS IS DUE TONIGHT AT 11:59 pm. Who can do it?

Listening Guide 62 CD: CHR/STD 6/62–66, SH 3/46–50

Debussy: Prelude to “The Afternoon of a Faun” (Prélude à “L’après-midi d’un faune”) (9:45)

DATE OF WORK: 1894

GENRE: Symphonic poem

ORCHESTRA: Strings (with 2 harps), flute, oboes, English horn, clarinets, French horns, and antique cymbals

BASIS: Symbolist poem by Stéphane Mallarmé

FORM: Free ternary (A-B-A�)

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR: Lyrical, sinuous melodies (opening is chromatic), that repeat. Rich instrumental color, with individual timbres that stand out against the

orchestra; free-flowing rhythm gives a sense of floating. Loose 3-part (ternary, or A-B-A�) structure. Evocative mood that expresses the poem’s sensuality. Emotional climax in middle section that peaks in range, dynamics, and

textural density.

Opening of poem:

TEXT TRANSLATION

Ces nymphes, je les veux perpétuer. These nymphs I would perpetuate. Si clair So light

Leur incarnat léger, qu’il voltige dans l’air their gossamer embodiment, floating on the air Assoupi de sommeils touffus. inert with heavy slumber.

Amais-je un rêve? Was it a dream I loved? Mon doute, amas de nuit ancienne, s’achève My doubting harvest of the bygone night ends En maint rameau subtil, qui, de meuré les vrais in countless tiny branches; together remaining Bois mèmes, prouve, hélas! que bien seul je a whole forest, they prove, alas, that since I am

m’offrais alone, Pour triomphe la faute idéale de roses. my fancied triumph was but the ideal

imperfection of roses. Réfléchissons . . . ou si les femmes dont tu Let us reflect . . . or suppose those women that

gloses you idolize Figurent un souhait de tes sens fabuleux! were but imaginings of your fantastic lust!

A SECTION 0:00 Opening chromatic melody

in flute; passes from one instru- ment to another, accompanied by muted strings and vague beat:

B SECTION 2:48 Clarinet introduces more ani-

mated idea, answered by rhyth- mic figure in cellos.

63

&

# #

# #9

8 œ . œ œ œ#œnœœnœ . œ

œ#œ œ . œ œ œ#œnœœnœ . œ œ#œ

£ £

p doux et expressif

etc.Très modéré 62

3:16 New theme, more animated rhythmically in solo oboe, builds in crescendo:

4:34 Contrasting theme in wood- winds, then strings, with synco- pated rhythms, builds to climax:

A� SECTION 6:22 Abridged return, in varied

setting.

66

&

b b

b b

b

3

4

˙ œ œ . œ

J

œ

œ

œ œ

J

œ œ

J

œ œ

J

œ bœ

J

nœ

etc.-

p F p

expressif et très soutenu

65

&

# #

# # 3

4 œ œ œœ œ

œœ

œ œ œœœœ

œœ œœ œ

œ œ œœ œ

nœœ œ œœ œ

doux et expressif

etc. 64

Listening Guide 62 (Continued)