# Debussy, Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune

Languid, mysterious accompaniment to the famous flute solo. The dawn of musical Impressionism.

## About the excerpt

- **Composer:** Claude Debussy

- **Work:** Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune

- **Movement:** Très modéré (cello entrance)

- **Era:** Modern (c. 1910–1950)

- **Composed:** 1894

- **Key:** E

- **Metre:** 9/8

- **Tempo:** Très modéré approximately 44 BPM

- **Clef:** Bass clef

- **Difficulty:** Intermediate

- **Audition list:** Not a standard excerpt

## Style

Floating, sensual. Vibrato shimmers but doesn't pulse.

## Techniques

orchestral, impressionist, lyrical

This public reference contains work information and original practice notes. It does not publish the excerpt notation or grant permission to copy a score. Score access and rights depend on the edition and jurisdiction.

## Related excerpts

- [Stravinsky: Firebird, Berceuse](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/stravinsky-firebird-berceuse), Hushed lullaby that opens after the firebird's capture, cellos rock gently in the lower register. Intermediate; Modern; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Prokofiev: Romeo & Juliet, Dance of the Knights](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/prokofiev-dance-knights), The thunderous Capulet dance, relentless, marcato, a staple of orchestra excerpts. Intermediate; Modern; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Barber: Adagio for Strings, cello voice](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/barber-adagio), The most famous American adagio. Cellos contribute a slow, rising/falling line of immense pathos. Intermediate; Modern; Bass clef.
- [Stravinsky: Rite of Spring, Introduction](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/stravinsky-rite-intro), Strange, primordial wakening, odd meters, exposed harmonics and high tessitura. Advanced; Modern; Tenor clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5, I, opening](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/shostakovich-5-i), The dotted-rhythm canon between low strings and violins that opens one of the great 20th-century symphonies. Advanced; Modern; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra, II, cellos](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/bartok-cfo-ii), The cellos enter as the third "couple" in Bartók's game of pairs, playing parallel sixths. Advanced; Modern; Tenor clef. Standard audition excerpt.

Canonical source: https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/debussy-faune