Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun - Study Score

“Prelude a l’apres-midi d’un faune”, often referred to as the first composition of the “modern” era, is one of Debussy’s most popular and frequently performed orchestral works. The piece comes down to us in an array of sources, and several important ones are drawn upon for the first time in Barenreiter’s new scholarly-critical edition.

Most of the currently available editions are based on the first edition from 1895 which, however, contains many engraver errors. When the corresponding orchestral parts are also taken into consideration, countless discrepancies are revealed.

Barenreiter’s Urtext edition incorporates readings of a printed copy of the score from c. 1908 which shows corrections and emendations by the composer. These important changes, found in no other source, include metronome markings, different pitches and additional notes, as well as added tempo and articulation markings, which all subtly enhance Debussy’s finely sculpted work. There is even a breath mark added to the famous solo flute passage which opens the work.