Debussy’s, Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun

Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

The “faun” in the title of this tone poem is the mythical creature, like Mr. Tumnus in The Chronicles of Narnia, not the young deer like Bambi.

Sculpture of a faun

This piece (10 minutes long) by Claude Debussy was inspired by Mallarmé’s poem, “Afternoon of a Faun.” It is like a tone poem or symphonic poem in that it is a single movement that relates to a program (an extra-musical idea). It does not, however, follow the poem’s sequence precisely. Rather, it creates an atmosphere—or an impression—of the poem’s dreamy mood. Here is what Debussy had to say about this work:

The music of this prelude is a very free illustration of Mallarmé's beautiful poem. By no means does it claim to be a synthesis of it. Rather there is a succession of scenes through which pass the desires and dreams of the faun in the heat of the afternoon. Then, tired of pursuing the timorous flight of nymphs and naiads, he succumbs to intoxicating sleep, in which he can finally realize his dreams of possession in universal Nature.

Debussy was one of the premier composers in the Impressionist style.