Question

Debussy, prelude to the afternoon of a faun debussy, as we have seen, was a master of generating new sonorities, as well as creating new, discontinuous orchestrations. the following questions, therefore, pertain mainly to issues of color and orchestration. which of the following is true about the beginning of this piece?

a. the texture is monophonic, the meter is vague, and the melody has chromaticism.
b. the texture is polyphonic, the meter is clear, and the melody has chromaticism.
c. the texture is homophonic, the meter is clear, and the melody does not have chromaticism

Answer 1

In the beginning of Debussy's "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun," the texture is monophonic, the meter is vague, and the melody features chromaticism, reflecting Debussy's innovative orchestration. Option a is the correct choice.

The beginning of Debussy's "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun" is characterized by a distinct orchestral color and texture. The correct option is The texture is monophonic, the meter is vague, and the melody has chromaticism.

In this piece, Debussy employs a monophonic texture, where a single melodic line dominates, creating a dreamlike and ethereal atmosphere. The meter is intentionally vague, contributing to the impressionistic quality of the music. Debussy often avoided traditional rhythmic regularity. Furthermore, chromaticism is a prominent feature in the melody, as Debussy's harmonic language embraces a wide range of pitch, creating rich and colorful sonorities. These characteristics align with Debussy's innovative approach to orchestration, emphasizing atmosphere, and departing from conventional tonal and formal structures.