I know that everyone's interpretation of Syrinx by Debussy is different, but I was wondering about different people's perspective on how the story behind the song matches up with the music. This is purely out of curiousity (and a bit random, I know ), but what do you imagine Pan doing during different parts of the piece?

See if you can get hold of a copy of "The Flute" by James Galway. He writes quite a large piece about how to play this well known solo - maybe you can borrow it from a library. I found it useful.

As long as it doesn't end up sounding like his version. I love Sir James's interpretation of a number of pieces. Syrinx isn't one of them.

I'm sure my flute teacher had me laughing by saying something about playing the triplets on the second page sensually... the famous sensual goat... hmm.

I don't really remember her interpretation of it, I've never been a brilliant one for visualising things, but I think it was like Pan approaching some nymphs or maidens or something and trying to seduce them but I can't even remember how far he got haha.

I do know it didn't have any donkeys in it, which is something my teacher sings to rhythms a lot, such as "I want a donkey"....

Pan didn't get anywhere! His seductions forced the nymph to become riverbed reeds. Pan chants his sorrows for lost love on the pipe.

A very beautiful, but actually quite melancholic piece.

Syrinx...Pan et al

Well Pan as a woodland faun is extremely sensual, his whole existence is devoted to pleasure...namely his own...he passes from one lover to the next...this is exactly how Debussey portrays him in "syrinx", lithe, ethereal, sensual and always fleeting, never lingering more than he requires to sait his appetite...

As a mythical creature of the woodland his legend is somewhat twisted by romantic imagery...Pan was quite the devil, a creature of mischief and the ultimate male Chauvanist...it was ALL ABOUT HIM...so don't be beguiled by his charms he wants only one thing and if he doesnt get it at one point he'll look elsewhere...he cares little for his conquests...his attentions are quite shallow yet we love this rougish creature...he always seems to get away with it somehow...

As for Debussys interpretation...well I think he got it right...I adore this piece, he creates all the imagery we need and takes us into Pans world...we are for the moment lost in a place between our world and his...its like seeing Pans world through an early summers morning mist...did we se it or did we imagine it...

Perfect...

Andrew

The mythological story is that Pan was chasing a river nymph through the woods, and she turned into some river reeds to hide from him... Unfortunately he realised, and turned her into a set of Pan pipes. Hence the mournful sounds...

Yeah, I always thought Debussy really got this one right. ..

funkygibson, that's definitely hilarious; my teacher has been telling me to play the first part like a seductive love song, but I never realized how ridiculous a seductive goat is. . .

I also like the trills on the second page, leading up to the held Bb. . .I always imagine that that's Pan crying for some reason.

I agree one of my least favourite Galway pieces.