Prelude a l'apres midi d'un faune

Question 1

genre

Answer 1

symphonic poem

Question 2

background

Answer 2

symphonic poem based on a pastoral poem by Mallarme.
- exhibits musical characteristics heralding the 20th century
- vividly demonstrates his luminous, subtle style
- sought to suggest rather than depict like impressionist painters. : instrumental lines are frequently muted, like the soft edges in an impressionist painting, he uses a large orchestra for color rather than power, creates a floating, suspended quality by minimizing strong rhythms through the use of ties and parallel writing1

Question 3

composition

Answer 3

1894

Question 4

source of inspiration

Answer 4

a symbolist poem (pastoral) by Stephane Mallarme

Question 5

form

Answer 5

loose ternary structure (aba1)

Question 6

performing forces

Answer 6

strings, violins, violas, cellos, double bases, harps, woodwinds, flutes, oboes, English horn, clarinets, brass, French horns, percussion, antique cymblas

Question 7

key signature

Answer 7

begins and ends in four sharps

Question 8

meter

Answer 8

beings in 9/8

Question 9

tempo

Answer 9

tres modere

Question 10

subject

Answer 10

describes a faun, a mythological character of the forest who is half man, half goat. he is visited by three lovely nymphs (or perhaps he imagines the encounter). The hazy, dreamy quality of the poem is captured in Debussys sensuous music. The overall structure creates a statement departure return sequence familiar from earlier eras. flexibility of form contributes to the spontaneous, rhapsodic character.