The Girl with the Flaxen Hair [Woodwind Quintet]

“La fille aux cheveux de lin” (French: The Girl with the Flaxen Hair) is the eighth piece in the first book of Debussy's Préludes. There are 24 preludes in total, divided into two books of 12 pieces each: "Préludes, Book 1" and "Préludes, Book 2." This piece is one of the important works from Debussy's later period. It is a short piece, lasting about three minutes, and is often performed individually. The title is borrowed from the poem of the same name by Leconte de Lisle.
In the original manuscript of the Préludes, the titles were intentionally placed at the end of each score, followed by an ellipsis "...". Placing the titles at the end indicates that they are secondary to the music.
The original piece was first performed by Debussy himself in May 1910. The following month, he met Igor Stravinsky and Erik Satie. It is believed that 1910 was an important year for Debussy.
Unlike other pieces in the collection, this work has a clear tonality (G-flat major). It is improvisational and characterized by warm harmonies throughout. (Yuto Yamada)