Paul Dukas: L’apprenti sorcier
Context
Paul Dukas was born in Paris, 1865. In 1881, Dukas entered the Conservatoire de Paris, studying piano and composition. Whilst studying at the conservatoire Dukas became very close friends with Claude Debussy. Dukas thrived studying composition, however, much of his work within this period was destroyed by the composer, due to his perfectionist and sadly, self-destructive tendencies. This seemed to be a general theme for the whole of Dukas’ career, as there are a very limited amount of manuscripts left. However, some of the work that has survived won, or placed him in line for prestigious prizes, such as the Prix de Rome. 
Dukas (L) and Debussy (R) c.1896
After he left education, Dukas pursued a dual career as both a composer and music critic. Whilst his career as a critic was thriving after writing reviews on the works of Wagner and Mahler, his composing career was questionable. He wrote a mix of symphonic works, which received mixed reviews upon their premieres, however, they were received much more positively after 1900. The reason for this change in opinion is largely down to Dukas’ most popular work, L’apprenti sorcier (‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’). The piece gained international recognition for its innovative use of the programme music genre. L’apprenti sorcier overshadows all of Dukas’ other compositions, thus the piece became a slight hindrance for Dukas, as none of his other works were ever as well-received.
The Inspiration
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice was written in 1897, and is subtitled “Scherzo after a ballad by Goethe” due to it being based on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s 1797 poem of the same name. Goethe’s poem can be read here:
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1797)
That old sorcerer has vanished
And for once has gone away!
Spirits called by him, now banished,
My commands shall soon obey.
Every step and saying
That he used, I know,
And with sprites obeying
My arts I will show.
Flow, flow onward
Stretches many
Spare not any
Water rushing,
Every streaming fully downward
Toward the pool in current gushing.
Come, old broomstick, you are needed,
Take these rags and wrap them round you!
Long my orders you have heeded,
By my wishes now I’ve bound you.
Have two legs and stand,
And a head for you.
Run, and in your hand
Hold a bucket too.
Flow, flow onward
Stretches many,
Spare not any
Water rushing,
Ever streaming fully downward
Toward the pool in current gushing.
See him, toward the shore he’s racing
There, he’s at the stream already,
Back like lightning he is chasing,
Pouring water fast and steady.
Once again he hastens!
How the water spills,
How the water basins
Brimming full he fills!
Stop now, hear me!
Ample measure
Of your treasure
We have gotten!
Ah, I see it, dear me, dear me.
Master’s word I have forgotten!
Ah, the word with which the master
Makes the broom a broom once more!
Ah, he runs and fetches faster!
Be a broomstick as before!
Every new the torrents
That by him are fed,
Ah, a hundred currents
Pour upon my head!
No, no longer
Can I please him,
I will seize him!
That is spiteful!
My misgivings grow the stronger.
What a mien, his eyes how frightful!
Brood of hell, you’re not a mortal!
Shall the entire house go under?
Over the threshold over portal
Streams of water rush and thunder.
Broom accurst and mean,
Who will have his will,
Stick that you have been,
Once again stand still!
Can I never,Broom, appease you?
I will seize you,
Hold and whack you,
And your ancient wood
I’ll sever,
With a whetted axe I’ll crack you.
He returns, more water dragging!
Now I’ll throw myself upon you!
Soon, 0 goblin, you’ll be sagging.
Crash! The sharp axe has undone you.
What a good blow, truly!
There, he’s split, I see.
Hope now rises newly,
Any my breathing’s free.
Woe betide me!
Both halves scurry
In a hurry,
Rise like towers
There beside me.
Help me, help, eternal powers!
Off they run, till wet and wetter
Hall and steps immersed are lying.
What a flood that naught can fetter!
Lord and master, hear me crying! –
Ah, he comes excited.
Sir, my need is sore.
Spirits that I’ve cited
My commands ignore.
The Music
L’apprenti sorcier established a mysterious atmosphere, which is set off by the strings. A descending sequence is heard in the upper strings, and this is counteracted by the main theme – just in a much slower form – by the clarinets and flutes. Suddenly a burst of energy breaks through and once the muted trumpet enters reflects when the apprentice discovers some of the sorcerer’s magic. Fast tremolos from the strings and the piercing trumpets depict the apprentice trying his luck with making the magic work on some nearby brooms.
The next section is the very famous part, which starts with single notes in 1, which bounce from tonic and dominant. The bounce-feel in this section, coupled with the silence bars, create tension as to whether the magic is going to work on the broom. Thus, the famous bassoon line enters, which is based upon a simple quaver movement in 3/8 – though usually played quite fast! Its fast and playful feel gives this section a pleasant atmosphere – fizzing with triumph for the apprentice.
This melody is then taken from the bassoons and is passed around the orchestra. The off-beat stabs by the horns and pizzicato strings give this section a very pacy feel. The eight-bar phrase is interrupted by smooth strings, who are shadowing the chord progression from the beginning of the piece. The trumpets enter with the main theme and the orchestra all come up in terms of dynamic and energy. The quick change from arco to pizzicato in the strings creates a very interesting timbre, which helps with depicting the different aspects of the magic. The glockenspiel becomes one of the most important instrument here, with its fast and technical rhythms. The high-pitched glockenspiel sound is what I feel gives the ‘magic’ atmosphere to the piece as it could represent the sparks of magic.
A sketch by Ernst Barlach representing ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’ scene
This section is soon finished after a trill, and then the orchestra returns back to the one note-bounce motif. The main theme has also returned, though this time in the string section. An amalgamation of the main theme and the theme from the introduction is then heard. This section centres around the string section, with occasional interruptions by the trumpets, timpani, and glockenspiel. A climatic section grows throughout the orchestra and a ‘downward spiral’ motif is played by the strings. This leads to an upper brass fanfare, which leads us to the next climax of the piece, where the whole orchestra is together.
Very quickly, however, the instrumentation drops dramatically, and what instrument are we left with? None other than the lowest of the bassoon section – the contrabassoon! This is a very interesting and amusing choice in instrument. It plays an ascending 4-note motif, which is then passed to the clarinet before the main bassoon theme returns once more. The bassoons then play a variation of the theme, whilst the clarinets play the initial theme above. This creates a hectic atmosphere, which is very exciting. The mixing of various themes at once is to highlight the mess that the magic is making. The climax is very exciting here and the whole orchestra is playing in their top ranges on a trill. The orchestra then explodes into the main theme altogether, and the loud dynamic represent the strong magic.
Fast passage work by the string section brings the piece into a brass-led explosion of sound (this is supposed to represent the sorcerer speaking the magic and stopping the brooms from cleaning). Again, the mood drops and the strings play a short pizzicato section. The bounce theme tries to return, however, the strings enter with the introductory passage, which creates the mysterious atmosphere once again. The viola leads the main melody at times in this section.
To end the piece and break the tension created, the whole orchestra plays a four-chord ascending scale. The four notes at the end here supposedly represent the number of disciplinary strokes the sorcerer has given to the mischievous apprentice. With the various changes in tempo, it reiterates the story of the young apprentice trying the magic, but losing control of it very quickly. After chopping up the broom, he realises the work is done twice as fast (hence the different tempo changes).
Final Thoughts
This work is also famous from being in Disney’s film Fantasia. The piece was already a concert-hall success, however, its appearance in this film made it even more popular to other audiences. The story is depicted by Micky Mouse.
Ⓒ Alex Burns
Happy reading!
You might also enjoy… Camille Saint-Saëns: Danse Macabre
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