Girl with the Flaxen Hair, The (Moss)

From Wind Repertory Project
Claude Debussy

Claude Debussy (trans. John Moss)


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Subtitle: Solo for Alto Sax or English Horn with Band


General Info

Year: 1910 / 2007
Duration: c. 2:35
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Piano
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $75.00   |   Score Only (print) - $7.50


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Solo Alto Saxophone
Solo English Horn
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Contra Alto Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Percussion I-II

(percussion detail desired)


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Delicately scored and carefully paced, here is Debussy's beautiful lyric melody arranged as a solo vehicle for alto sax or English horn with concert band. A wonderful opportunity for exploring the rich romanticism of Debussy's music while providing an attractive setting for a standout soloist.

- Program Note from publisher


One of the most frequently excerpted preludes, La fille aux cheveux de lin (The Girl with the Flaxen Hair) is a return to the simple harmonies found in earlier works of Debussy. The work comes from the first of two books of piano preludes. Inspired by the poem of the same title by Leconte de Lisle from the collection Poèmes Antiques: Chansons Ecossaises, it is calm and lyrical, a stark contrast to mighty winds of the previous prelude in the set. The image is that of a young girl simply and softly singing of her daydreams, the opening motif reminiscent of the famous spinning wheel of the Gretchen tradition of the romantic period, recalling Schubert’s similar characterization of the young girl. The harmony presents an interesting combination of Impressionist techniques: the melody is pentatonic, however it is harmonized with diatonic chords. This very cleverly masks the oriental flavor of the pentatonic scale, and when combined with modal cadences, gives the prelude a folk-song like presence.

- Program Note from Michigan State University Wind Symphony concert program, 27 October 2016


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

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Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources