Syrinx – La flûte de Pan

Syrinx is undoubtedly among the works that are immediately associated with Debussy. The piece, which was given its first performance under the title La flûte de Pan, was composed in 1913 as incidental music to a dramatic poem by Gabriel Mourey. In the central scene Pan is playing a reed flute, which is actually the nymph Syrinx. Pan is, however, invisible to the other nymphs and to the audience.

In order to reflect the staged situation, the dedicatee Louis Fleury used to play the piece behind a screen when he played it in concert. It was only published by Jobert in 1927, following Debussy’s death; its popularity has remained unsurpassed to this day.