Composition - Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun (p. 115-117)

Question 1

What is the Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun poem about?

Answer 1

The poem describes a faun (half man, half goat). He may or may not have imagined three nymphs visited him.

Question 2

Answer the following for the music excerpt:

• Title of entire piece
• What instruments play this theme
• Form of entire piece
• Which part of the form is the music excerpt?
• What is the solo instrument?
• What interval does the solo instrument play?
• What innovative instrument is played in the final section (not in the excerpt)?

Answer 2

• Title of entire piece: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
• Form of entire piece: ABA
• Which part of the form is the music excerpt? return of section A
• What is the solo instrument? Flute
• What interval does the solo instrument play? Solo flute play perfect fourth (5 semitones)
• What innovative instrument is played in the final section (not in the excerpt)? Antique cymbals (see attached image)

Question 3

What is the term that suggests instead of depict (describe) images? Techniques used include vague metric pulse, new instruments, new ways of playing instrument and different scales such as whole-tone, modal and pentatonic scales

Answer 3

Impressionism in music

Question 4

Who composed the poem that Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun is based on?

Answer 4

Stephane Mallarme wrote the poem.

Question 5

Why is Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun a good example of impressionism in music?

Answer 5

Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun is a good example of impressionism in music because
- it’s meter is vague
- there is no clear meter (no regular accent)
- it has less common scales such as whole tone scale and
- it uses innovative instruments such as antique cymbals and innovative orchestration such as harp glissandi, muted horns, and muted strings

Question 6

What is the term that Franz Liszt created for an orchestral program music that has one movement, free in form and follow a story or a painting?

Answer 6

symphonic poem

Question 7

What type of poem is Prelude to “The Afternoon of a Faun”?

Answer 7

It is a symbolist poem.

Question 8

Define symphonic poem

Answer 8

Franz Liszt invented symphonic poem for an orchestral program music that has one movement, free in form and follow a story or a painting.

Question 9

Answer the following for the music excerpt:

• Title of entire piece
• What instruments play this theme
• Form of entire piece
• Which part of the form is the music excerpt?
• Which instrument plays the theme?
• What scale is used and why is it used?

Answer 9

• Title of entire piece: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
• Form: ABA
• Which part of the form is the music excerpt? section B
• Which instrument plays the theme? Clarinet
• What scale is used and why is it used? Whole-tone scale is used to bring out exotic feeling

Question 10

Define Symbolism

Answer 10

It is a late 19th century French literary movement in which authors suggest the subject matter rather than depict (describe) specifically. One such author was Mallarme.

Question 11

What is the term for a late 19th
century French literary movement in which authors suggest the subject matter rather than depict (describe) specifically?

Answer 11

Symbolism

Question 12

Answer the following for the music excerpt:

• Title of entire piece
• Composer
• Genre
• Source of inspiration
• Who wrote the source of inspiration
• Form of entire piece
• Which part of the form is the music excerpt?
• Which instrument plays the theme?

Answer 12

• Title of entire piece: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
• Composer: Debussy
• Genre: symphonic poem (tone poem)
• Source of inspiration: a symbolist poem
• Who wrote the source of inspiration: Mallarme
• Form: ABA
• Which part of the form is the music excerpt? section B
• Which instrument plays the theme? Clarinet

Question 13

Define Impressionism in music

Answer 13

Impressionism in music comes from impressionism in painting. It suggests instead of depict (describe) images. Techniques used include vague metric pulse, new instruments, new ways of playing instrument and different scales such as whole-tone, modal and pentatonic scales

Question 14

Answer the following for the music excerpt:

• Title of entire piece
• Composer
• Genre
• Source of inspiration
• Who wrote the source of inspiration
• Form of entire piece
• Which part of the form is the music excerpt?
  -What is the key signature?

Answer 14

• Title of entire piece: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
• Composer: Debussy
• Genre: symphonic poem (tone poem)
• Source of inspiration: a symbolist poem
• Who wrote the source of inspiration: Mallarme
• Form: ABA
• Which part of the form is the music excerpt? section A
  -What is the key signature? begins and ends in four sharps (E major but the tonality is vague)

Question 15

Answer the following for the music excerpt:

• Title of entire piece
• What instrument plays the opening melody
• What interval is in the opening melody?
• Give two innovative orchestration in this music excerpt
• Describe the meter/tempo

Answer 15

• Title of entire piece: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
• What instrument plays the opening melody: flute
• What interval is in the opening melody? a tritone
• Give two innovative orchestration in this music excerpt: harp glissandi, muted horns, muted strings
• Describe the meter/tempo: the tempo is moderate and there is no clear metric accent