Prélude à l'après midi d'un faune

Question 1

What is the genre of <i>Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune</i>?

Answer 1

symphonic poem (tone poem)

Question 2

When was <i>Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune</i> composed?

Answer 2

1894

Question 3

What is the formal structure of <i>Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune</i>?

Answer 3

loose ternary structure (ABA1)

Question 4

what is the source of inspiration for <i>Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune</i>?

Answer 4

a Symbolist poem (pastoral) by Stéphane Mallarmé

Question 5

What are the performing forces in <i>Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune</i>?

Answer 5

strings - violins, violas, cellos, double basses, harps
woodwinds - flutes, oboes, Eng horn, clarinets
brass - Fr horns
percussion - antique cymbals

Question 6

What is the key signature of <i>Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune</i>?

Answer 6

begins and ends with four shaprs

Question 7

What is the time signature of <i>Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune</i>?

Answer 7

begins with 9/8

Question 8

What is the tempo of <i>Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune</i>?

Answer 8

<i>Très modéré</i>

Question 9

What does the poem for <i>Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune</i> describe?

Answer 9

a <b>faun</b>, a mythological character of the forest who is <u>half man, half goat</u>

he is visited by three lovely nymphs, or was it just a dream?

Question 10

What feelings does <i>Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune</i> capture of the poem?

Answer 10

the hazy, dreamy quality

Question 11

What is the tonality of <b>Section A</b> of <i>Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune</i>?

Answer 11

the tonality is deliberately ambiguous (despite key signature)

Question 12

how does the flute play the opening melody in <b>Section A</b> of <i>Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune</i>?

Answer 12

the flute descends chromatically from C sharp to G, outlining a <b>tritone</b> (Aug4)

Question 13

What does the mysterious atmosphere in the opening of <b>Section A</b> of <i>Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune</i> depict?

Answer 13

Mallarmé’s poem: nymphs in their gossamer(delicate) embodiment, floating on the air . . .”

Question 14

How is <b>Section A</b> of <i>Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune</i> fluid and rhythmic?

Answer 14

figures often flow across bar lines,

obscure metric accents

Question 15

What are the innovative orchestrations in <b>Section A</b> of <i>Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune</i>?

Answer 15

feature harp <i>glissandi</i>,
muted horns,
muted strings

Question 16

How any themes are introduced in <b>Section b</b> of <i>Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune</i>?

Answer 16

two

Question 17

Which instrument introduce the themes in <b>Section B</b> of <i>Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune</i>?

Answer 17

woodwinds

Question 18

How is contrast created in <b>Section B</b> of <i>Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune</i>?

Answer 18

a more active, animated rhythm

Question 19

How do the clarinets evoke an <b>exotic atmosphere</b>?

Answer 19

the clarinets trace a rapid whole-tone scales

Question 20

What kind of sound do the strings in parallel motion create in <b>Section B</b> of <i>Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune</i>?

Answer 20

a gentle, floating sound

Question 21

How is the climax created in <b>Section B</b> of <i>Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune</i>?

Answer 21

modulation to D flat major

pressing syncopation

Question 22

How are the note values changed in the <b>Return of Section A</b> of <i>Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune</i>?

Answer 22

longer note values are used (augmentation)

Question 23

How is the melody changed in the <b>Return of Section A</b> of <i>Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune</i>?

Answer 23

solo flute now outlines a perfect fourth

clarifies E major tonality

Question 24

What percussion instrument is in the <b>Return of Section A</b> of <i>Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune</i>

Answer 24

antique cymbals are gently struck