File:The orchestra and its instruments (1917) (14595830620).jpg

Identifier: orchestraitsinst00sing (find matches)
Title: The orchestra and its instruments
Year: 1917 (1910s)
Authors: Singleton, Esther, d. 1930
Subjects: Orchestra Musical instruments
Publisher: New York : The Symphony society of New York
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

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to Russia. On his return to Paris he becameone of the frequent guests at those famous soireesof Mallarme, where painters, poets, sculptors, andmusicians gathered. His piano works, songs, instrumental pieces, andorchestral compositions, such as UApres midi dunjaune, were admired by many persons on their firsthearing; but his audience was comparatively smalluntil the opera of Pelleas et Melisande made himknown throughout the world. Here was an entirelynew idea in music. The Orchestra did not annotate,nor emphasize the actions of the persons on the stage,but it became a soft, melodious atmosphere, a de-licious web of harmony enfolding the entire work. Itwas like nothing that had ever been written. One idea of Debussys in orchestral writing is toget the greatest effect with the simplest means. Toproduce these effects Debussy employs many oldscales and harmonic chords. His instrumentation,therefore, seems diaphanous, ethereal, and suffusedwith delicate, opalescent colors. He is in sympathy
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Ul ^. ^_ l w ~*-* V DEBUSSY Photograph taken in Paris THE ORCHESTRA 271 with the impressionists in painting and the symbolistsin poetry. The fluid quality of his music lends itselfto the description of water. His works are full of thesound of water — the sea, fountains, and silvery rainfalling upon dim gardens. He creates a sense ofmystery and atmospheric beauties as no one else hasever done. In the Ajternoon of a Faun: The ascending and descending introductory barsgiven out by an unaccompanied flute convey an ideaof pastoral charm. A characteristic bucholic hornmotive follows, and the first theme is repeated withmuted string accompaniment. The whole scoring ofthe composition is of cobweb delicacy. The Orchestrais composed of three flutes, oboes, clarinets, fourhorns, two harps, antique cymbals, and strings. Theprincipal themes are given by clarinets, oboes, andharps respectively. A scale of whole tones is heardon the clarinet; this leads to another section markedpiu animato, in whi

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