Western — Classical & Romantic
Impressionist · 1894

Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune

C. DebussyL. 86

Key
E
Time
9/8
Tempo
♩=60
AO focus
AO3

Incipit

Form

Symphonic poem. Setting of Mallarmé's poem. Boulez called it 'the awakening of modern music'.

Teaching points

  • Famous flute opening descending tritone
  • Whole-tone harmony
  • AO3: birth of modernism
Full score ↓Public domain

Jobert + later urtext, PD.

Topic T9