Debussy, Prelude to 'The Afternoon of a Faun' (animation)

Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, by Claude Debussy, with an animated graphical score.
FAQ
Q: Where can I learn more about this piece?
A: Where else? Wikipedia:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prelude_...
Q: Who is performing this piece?
A: I believe it is a recording of a performance with Michael Tilson Thomas conducting:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001...
I licensed the recording from SoundDogs; they didn't tell me who performed it. It seems suspicious that they would sell me a license to a recording with Michael Tilson Thomas conducting and either not know it was his recording or not want to tell me about it, but there you have it.
Q: Why did you do multiple versions of this piece?
A: I did the first version ...
• Debussy, Prelude to 'T...
... in 2012, just a year or two after I'd started developing renderers ...
www.musanim.com/renderers/
... other than the standard scrolling bar-graph score which I'd been using since 1985 ...
• Malinowski/Bach, Music...
Between 2012 and 2016, my palette of visual effects expanded ...
www.musanim.com/KZbin/
... and so when Alte Oper Frankfurt ...
www.alteoper.de/
... asked whether they could license my animation to show as part of their September 2016 program ...
www.alteoper.de/de/programm/v...
... I said "yes, but let me make a new version using the styles I've developed in the past four years." I posted a second version as soon as I completed it ...
• Debussy, Prelude to 'T...
... but subsequently discovered that the color calibration of my computer was very badly off, and the Voronoi tessellation I used for the background ...
www.musanim.com/Voronoi/
... was much too prominent; so I made a third version (which I hope is the last for now) ...
• Debussy, Prelude to 'T...
Q: What do the different shapes mean?
A: There are two versions of this piece. In both versions, the flute (which begins the piece) is shown in "walking ellipses," and the brass is shown with an "ellipse aura." In the first version of the video (see previous question), the other shapes mean this:
rectangle: strings
rhombus (filled): woodwind
rhombus (hollow): pizzicato strings
In the second and third versions of the video, the other shapes mean this:
octagon: clarinet
rhombus: strings (hollow for pizzicato)
inverted ellipse: oboe, bassoon
circle (hollow): harp
triangle (hollow): crotales
In all versions, the notes flicker when the strings are playing tremolo.
Q: What do the colors indicate?
A: The colors are assigned by a system called "harmonic coloring" in which the twelve pitch classes, C, C-sharp, D, etc., arranged on the "circle of fifths," are mapped to twelve hues, arranged on the "color wheel." This allows you to see changes in harmony and tonality. You can read more about this here:
www.musanim.com/HarmonicColoring/
Q: I appreciate the animated graphical scores you make; how can I support your work?
A: Thank you! The easiest way to support my work is by contributing via Patreon:
/ musanim
If you'd like to help in more specific way, consider this:
www.musanim.com/underwriting
Q: Could you please do a video of _______?
A: Please see this:
www.musanim.com/requests/

[@lykeioschoolprojects9806]

I cannot tell you how useful your animations are as an educational tool to make students understand the texture of the music. Thank you so much

[@smalin]

lykeio schoolprojects Are you a teacher?

[@smalin]

***** If every section of the orchestra had its own color, you wouldn't be able to see the changes in harmony/tonality. I tried it both ways, and this was way more interesting.

[@43nostromo]

Boy, that faun. He had quite an afternoon.

[@smalin]

+43nostromo Actually, Debussy never wrote the actual afternoon music; this is just the prelude.

[@carlosmendozapiano]

@@smalin what a morning then xd

[@melonssie5600]

@@carlosmendozapiano lol

[@melonssie5600]

@@smalin Really? That's so interesting

[@davidsilverfield835]

Lol

[@GelenosOak]

This was the piece me and my wife had played at our wedding during the communion.

[@MsEpeolatry]

5:20 to 6:45 is the most beautiful minute and 25 seconds i have ever listened to

[@beatrizbiancaduran7815]

That's my favorite part as well. So beautiful 😌

[@daikyosenshi]

Magic

[@dedlyx7]

Kind of reminds me of Star Wars Force Theme

[@TheMikkis100]

Ded Lee but 1000x better and more expressive!

[@StripeRich]

Start at 4:10 and I agree with you.

[@connorkiester3415]

3 flutes: Walking ellipse 2 oboes: Rhombus English horn: Rhombus 2 clarinets: Rhombus 2 bassoons: Rhombus 4 horns: Ellipse (aura) 2 crotales: Rhombus 2 harps: Rhombus Violins 1 2: Rectangle/Rhombus Violas: Rectangle/Rhombus Violoncellos: Rectangle/Rhombus Double bases: Rectangle/Rhombus

[@rr7firefly]

Thank you for that. I was thinking of how the instruments were represented in this video. Did you find those assignments to be consistent throughout?

[@kennethcheng189]

I first heard this piece when I was a child, it totally mesmerized me, and listening to it I had all the fantasies of the magics of an imagined natural landscape. That's the feeling it gave me.

[@kevinbyrne4538]

When I first listened to this piece, I was struck by its lush, rich sound. But after repeated hearings, I'm amazed by the mass of invention that Debussy crammed into these 11 minutes.

[@StripeRich]

Claude Debussy is, for me, the preeminent genius of his musical genre, (if indeed he can be compartmentalized to any genre), and perhaps that of all genres. My compliments to another genius, Stephen Malinowski, for disseminating music with these animations.

[@smalin]

Thank you!

[@SmoothD3vil]

Never, EVER remove this video! My absolute favorite version of this song and love the graphics. ,❤

[@johnhopkins9085]

In some ways, this is more valuable than reading the orchestral score. It gives you a much better sense of how the pitches move in relation to one another.

[@cassianowogel]

And it's quite didactic, too. :)

[@rr7firefly]

It is no surprise that many musicians including Pierre Boulez consider "Prelude..." to be the beginning of modern music. The piece, though to some might seem a simple composition is actually of a highly sophisticated and complex structure. This video (and the entire smalin series) is a wonderful way to illustrate that beautiful complexity. The opening flute solo consists of a semitone descent to a tritone below the original pitch, and the subsequent ascent. Debussy enacts voicings and shading in his orchestration to a high degree, allowing the main melodic cell to move from solo flute to oboe, back to solo flute, then two unison flutes (yielding a completely different atmosphere to the melody), then clarinet, etc. Even the accompaniment explores alternate voicings: the flute duo's crescendo during their melodic cells accompany legato strings with violas carrying the soprano part over alto violins. The main musical themes are introduced by woodwinds, with delicate but harmonically advanced underpinnings of muted horns, strings and harp. Recurring tools in Debussy's compositional arsenal make appearances in this piece: extended whole-tone scale runs, harmonic fluidity without lengthy modulations between central keys, and tritones in both melody and harmony.

[@smalin]

Thanks for the good commentary.

[@ppjjazz8885]

You literally copy and pasted that entire paragraph directly from Wikipedia: Debussy had intended to compose a second and third movement, an Interlude and Paraphrase finale, respectively, but he decided to concentrate all of his musical ideas into one movement.[9] The Prélude at first listening seems improvisational and almost free-form; however, closer observation will demonstrate that the piece consists of a complex organization of musical cells, motifs carefully developed and traded between members of the orchestra. A close analysis of the piece reveals a high amount of consciousness of composition on Debussy's part. The main musical themes are introduced by woodwinds, with delicate but harmonically advanced underpinnings of muted horns, strings and harp. Recurring tools in Debussy's compositional arsenal make appearances in this piece: extended whole-tone scale runs, harmonic fluidity without lengthy modulations between central keys, and tritones in both melody and harmony. The opening flute solo consists of a semitone descent to a tritone below the original pitch, and the subsequent ascent. The development of the slow main theme transitions smoothly between 9 8, 6 8, and 12 8 meters. Debussy enacts voicings and shading in his orchestration to a high degree, allowing the main melodic cell to move from solo flute to oboe, back to solo flute, then two unison flutes (yielding a completely different atmosphere to the melody), then clarinet, etc. Even the accompaniment explores alternate voicings: the flute duo's crescendo during their melodic cells accompany legato strings with violas carrying the soprano part over alto violins (the tone of a viola in its upper register being especially pronounced). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pr%C3%A9lude_%C3%A0_l%27apr%C3%A8s-midi_d%27un_faune Congrats

[@rampart64]

Hypnotic. Enchanting. Mind Expanding. Watched this 100's of times and it will never get old. This amazing music visualized like this is a transcendental experience for me. I appreciate the music so much more deeply seeing it like this. Thank you so much!

[@smalin]

Adam Eden You're welcome.

[@binkle1757]

I was exceptionally fortunate to have a friend who encouraged me, over 30 years ago, to see Nureyev perform in a recreation of the original Nijinsky/Ballets Russes production of Afternoon of a Faun. Thank you for bringing that wonderful memory back to me.

[@StripeRich]

Much of what Debussy wrote leaves me with a puddle to wipe up. This piece would be a fine prelude to any activity or setting, an overture to rapture itself. The passages from the violin crescendos at about 4:10 to the resolve at 6:40 have to be among the most evocative, sensuous orchestrations ever devised.

[@Lyth]

completely agree. That group of passages leaves me in tears every listen; it's incredibly beautiful

[@1yo2many]

I was planning on just listening to the audio, but the animation was actually quite intriguing since it matched perfectly with the music, so I just stared at the screen the whole time I was listening to this.

[@chaconne221]

For a long time, I was not a big fan of the opening notes, so I never listened to it all the way through. Then one day I just let it play on the radio and was pleasantly surprised. Can't judge a whole piece by its first notes. :)

[@annecohen8927]

This is art!!!! Musical art at its finest!!!Colorific. Debussy would have shown huge fascination of his music being transformed into a visual art form .

[@smalin]

If you like this, you might want to check out some of my more recent highlights: www.musanim.com/KZbinHighlights/

[@annecohen8927]

smalin I love Jupiter by Gustav Holst from The Planets, with this artistic visual. The results nearly blew my mind as I became amazed. I let my dad watched the video since he’s a scientist and I’m an artist myself . I love all of your videos!

[@krisfawcett6119]

@@smalin I was just captivated by your Prelude to The Afternoon of a Faun. I've listened to/watched it four times in the last two days!

[@hautbois123]

This is obscenely beautiful! THis is how we all need to look at scores !!!! Gives you everything you need to see and takes away all the 5 of 6 chords (and other misc horribly mystifying chords) that will confuse the hell out of you ! hahaha

[@slappadabassist]

love the build that starts at 6:00 so much

[@micheleanderson2710]

Me, too. It is so beautiful it makes my heart want to burst.

[@karimm5790]

my favorite part too, just wonderful...

[@StripeRich]

Hard to believe these innovations, these orchestrations are over a century old. Imagine Debussy's genius applied to film scores.

[@GeorgeZwierzchowskipianomusic]

film noir were all about debussey style orchestrations and harmonies. Today its all done on keyboards as sound pads practically. very rare to hear a high quality orchestral score today. no details just chords and atmospheres without any theme.

[@rr7firefly]

I've loved this since forever. Well, since I first listened to it at the age of 10. (My father's classical record collection.) Many years later I started reading about this piece and I marveled at how profoundly original and revolutionary it was for both musicologists and audiences. Considered the most daring piece of music many years before Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring." It premiered in 1894, while "Rite" premiered in 1913. You should look it up on Wikipedia to fully appreciate how marvelous it is.

[@krisfawcett6119]

These animations of yours are the closest visualizations I've ever seen to what happens in my mind as I listen to music. Thank you so much!

[@neetugond956]

Iiliolloop0pp0ooo ooopoiuuhuuiiuiiyu777iuioioiuuoo PE p me h hum ujiuwjwjj

[@buzzwaffle]

This is divine. Diverse shapes & varied color effects; layered, with depth, married to a beautiful score. Stunning really.

[@clar5295]

This is so very beautiful ..Each and every tune takes me there ..I am a lover of his wonderful music , and talent .

[@porridgeandprunes]

I think this is the most beautiful one you have done so far. The colours and shapes match the music perfectly. Thanks for enhancing one of my favourite orchestral pieces.

[@mikedonn71]

This is cinematic music. I can imagine so many beautiful stories in the notes. This stirs my heart deeply and brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it.

[@morkeljakeson9438]

This is so beautiful, but at the same time invokes this place of unease, foment. Trippy visualization, very cool.

[@therationalist2209]

This is the best version I have ever heard. All the others dont get the right timing or don't balance the instruments quite right. This one is just perfect.

[@krisfawcett6119]

Hypnotic and beautiful...just like the music...

[@claytonica23]

Gorgeous! I've listened to this piece many times, but your animation helped me hear things (especially in the more complex passages) that I'd never noticed before. Thanks as always for all of your hard work!

[@offsetsammy]

Absolutely gorgeous. Please don't ever stop making these videos.

[@Calvinios]

thank you for animating this piece: it really shows how intricate and delicate it is, absolute bliss.

[@ascendingkral]

I still remember the first time I heard this piece in music appreciation class in college. It was breathtaking then, and still is! I love the addition of the nature sounds is awesome. Thank you! I may use it in my classroom also.

[@jeffapol9782]

I am listening to this for the first time for my music appreciation class in college

[@COTTONDOG920]

Just beautiful, Stephen..Thank you so much for my favorite music..

[@rr7firefly]

The separation of instruments in your graphic display is very informative. I especially like being able to follow the flute, oboe and harp.

[@smalin]

Many music teachers are finding my animated graphical scores useful in their classes.

[@rr7firefly]

@@smalin for good reason. Your videos very clearly illustrate what is happening in the music score. Thank you once again for your dedication.

[@melonssie5600]

Whym

[@frank6185]

魔幻般的交響詩，像來到詩情畫意、親切可人的仙界，讓人放鬆慵懶的徜徉在磅礡山水、鳥語花香中，沉醉在晴空明朗、溫煦如春裡，忘卻了時間和痛苦，敞開心扉迎合這美好的一切帶來的愉悅........永遠都不要再離開了。 如果諾貝爾有音樂獎，這首｢牧神的午後｣，當之無愧！

[@yu-jiyao24]

是的

[@skywings8485]

Beautiful music and visuals. Thank you for putting it on.

[@TetsuoTheProphecy]

Heart wrenching piece - definitely goes down as a classic. Amazing!

[@porridgeandprunes]

I keep coming back to this video. Your animation matches the music so well.

[@BobMellor1954]

so beautiful and haunting

[@42Channel42]

This is probably my favorite song. It’s so beautiful 🤩

[@PaulHathawayRetired]

I imagine a fawn. And like the fawn's day, each moment brings something new around each corner, behind each bush or bloom, on each whiff of the breeze. This piece, the Debussy, describes it musically. And the visuals help us understand the relationships of the music and it's time. Thank you so much, Stephen. I almost cried around 4:00 and felt a chill around 7:30. Thanks, again.

[@smalin]

Paul Hathaway Glad you enjoyed it! (But: are you noting the difference between a fawn and a faun?)

[@mslauradesimone]

I am blown away at how helpful this is in analyzing a piece for my Music Appreciation class! Thank you for creating a video that matches the audio in beauty. :)

[@canollegra]

this is a truly beautiful video, thank you so much for doing this :) the shapes and colours are just perfect to me, and it's wonderful to see my favourite piece represented like this.

[@davemahar]

These videos are simply wonderful. They would be very good in airport waiting areas because they are entertaining, universal and relaxing.

[@marjoros]

Truly stunning. I was mesmerized. Many congratulations!

[@alphabet661]

THis is one of your best - the performances fantastic and the graphic score gorgeous. You definitely have to view this with a full screen or get the DVD and show on a large screen .

[@nannymac47]

He got so much said with such 'spare' writing. This piece totally invades one's core, or soul. Your visualization is so like what appears in my minds on listening to it. I played fourth horn for this in orchestra in college.... which means... I got to sit and listen.

[@kdeperro]

And no matter who wrote this, but it is magic. It was made so that we do not have any word to describe what can not be described but through music.

[@taza55]

It is incridible... I feel amazed and honoured... to be inscribed... rarely we get unto a great site and sensitivity, thank you. So much...

[@BeranM]

Oooh...now I understand how this works. Thanks for taking the time to reply, and the superb work that you do, Stephen!

[@wizkid915]

The things I'm doing to the replay button right now... horrible things... unspeakable things.... but I can't stop myself... it's just too beautiful...

[@anaisse095]

When I'm listening this I can imagine that I'm in a forest and in front of me is beautiful meadow with a little river. It's late afternoon, it's warm, sun is shining and birds are singing. Everything is calm and perfect. It's a magic place. Literally. If you are patient maybe some unicorn will come to you?...

[@kobachorr]

Love this work...the visuals are neat as well!

[@JSnow427]

@smalin man i was in my schools band and this music isnt my first pick in music but the way i look at music is that there is no bad music its just an expression of someones inner view, i love and respect it all in a whole, i love classical music so much but i love it all as well, i also love the visual you have here its simply wonderful i thank you for making me listen to this music more and remembering how much fun it was to play and listen to

[@Simsonsimsons]

Debussy is one of the most famous composer. He have a lot of beautiful ideas and his colours of music is fantastic

[@jerijones5251]

I'm new to classical music. Your work truly makes it come to life. Thank You!

[@wmmccoy01]

Masterful, sir. I wish your work was available when I was earning my music degrees. A wonderful way to look at both horizontal and vertical harmonic structure. Thanks!!!

[@Martel4]

Thanks for putting in the work. I admire these videos a lot.

[@dliiiiiiii]

Feeling so much validation as a harpist seeing this amazing graphical score!!

[@apgp1448]

You always find my favorite recordings. I always come here first because of it.

[@PSYLLA2020]

Fascinating work !! My compliments!

[@OhNooo]

a music teacher of mine introduced this song to one of our classes. i loved Debussy's compositions ever since.

[@smalin]

You're lucky to have music classes in school. What state do you live in?

[@OhNooo]

+smalin ah, really? i live outside America though. music classes there are not that prevalent?

[@smalin]

In many places in the US, the only music classes remaining are band (to play at football games).

[@OhNooo]

+smalin so they don't have music class if they're not in the school band? even if just about the history?

[@smalin]

I'm not an expert in this, but according to Wikipedia "More than 8,000 public schools in the US are currently without music programs as of 2010. Across the country, 1.3 million elementary school students don't have access to a music class." (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_education_in_the_United_States) When I entered the 7th grade (I guess that would have been in 1965), I enrolled in the orchestra class and was taught how to play the viola. These days, fewer than half of the schools have instruction in string instruments.

[@LarryShone]

Fabulous piece, and nice presentation!

[@Sweetaslily]

What a nostalgic music. I dance 2 years ago on this. Always gives me chills down my spine

[@foodiste]

beautifully rendered

[@marcsadurnifernandez1808]

2:25 IT'S WONDERFUL 😍😍😍

[@AwesomeArtistGuy]

I love this so much. Thank you

[@GeorgeZwierzchowskipianomusic]

I punched this piece into my studio one Daw and it looks very much like this while playing. except the instruments dont change color with the notes. Fun to watch. good job.

[@felipemp93]

There's not a way to not love it...It's just impossible! Everything fits so perfectly! Thanks a lot smalin.

[@feoletovii5886]

Beautiful modern score. Not only entertaining but theoretically fascinating

[@Lorspartan]

Hauntingly beautiful

[@catchsomenicebass]

This video is incredible. It's so beautiful. You have a true artistic gift.

[@WelcometoAtlantis2]

so relaxing. I love it!

[@IzabelaCordeiroA]

this is so beautiful ...

[@BHAKTIBROPHY]

I've never seen anything like this before. The visualization of the music is just...beautiful. Thank you for sharing this. Debussy would be proud, I'm sure. Subbed! :)

[@RalphDratman]

So amazing.

[@K4Zx]

just amazing !!

[@srich49]

The video is reminiscent of the early Disney art work. Outstanding!

[@WoundedEgo]

Great job. I understand the Deb more than I did before. Kudos.

[@IndelibLee]

Whoah! I was checking out that timeline and jeez...DEEP. Anyway, sir, thanks again, all the best, keep up the inspiring work!

[@thewetcarpet]

Beautiful.

[@pinkfrostingg]

i had to listen and interpret this piece for my college music class.... and i literally cannot stop listening. this is just so extremely peaceful and blissful and i fucking love it.

[@nyronpulsipher7371]

I love this music and all of the other digitally animated scores. Nyron

[@olopcall]

AMAZING, love it. This animation is priceless.

[@Copenhagendreamer]

one of the most beautiful pieces of music in the world

[@blackboxraptor]

Smalin really love your work....

[@patrickgoodman9234]

Love the graphical score!

[@EmdrGreg]

This is really wonderful.

[@kevinbyrne4538]

The crescendo after 6:00 is gorgeous. How does a mind conceive such things?

[@rr7firefly]

Years ago I started reading about this composition and I marveled at how profoundly original and revolutionary it was... for both musicologists and audiences. Considered the most daring piece of music many years before Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring." It premiered in 1894, while "Rite" premiered in 1913. You should look it up on Wikipedia to fully appreciate how marvelously constructed it is. A genuinely fine work of art.

[@Justme1635438]

One of the best classical works ever!

[@pigeonsim4392]

@ 10:11 that diminished half step on the scale is just perfect

[@TheFlyingZephyr]

No words, just no words. Freaking awesome.

[@nannymac47]

I have always loved the dissonance between the horns in this piece. It's just about THE only agitation in the whole composition.

[@nixieNICLA]

This is simply magical...so many shapes in one piece .... beautiful piece of music and a gorgeous animation...

[@smalin]

Thanks!

[@nixieNICLA]

Amazing work.... you should change your name to BIGAM ... I hope you make some more of these animations...

[@smalin]

nixie Trixstar There are 319 others on this KZbin channel ...

[@nixieNICLA]

Awesome, I shall surely take a look then ...

[@smalin]

nixie Trixstar BTW, "smalin" is S(tephen) + MALIN(owski) ... no size reference implied ...

[@rudbeckie1]

Díky! Nádherné!!!!

[@davidcc8582]

Thanks for this channel Smalin 😍

[@steveanderson9515]

Absolutely beautiful. What more can you say?

[@ArinGokdemir]

First 4 minutes are absolute heaven

[@stackedactor1]

@smalin Thanks for the reply,and for giving him consideration. As an aside, I am a musician/composer myself and these help me to "see" some of the buried counterpoint/ thematic material in longer pieces (even when I thought I "knew" these pieces). These videos are a must have for people who do not understand scores and musical notation, these animations are integral to helping to explain the "how" of music.