Syrinx

Syrinx, L. 129, is a piece of music for solo flute which Claude Debussy wrote
in 1913. It generally takes three minutes or less to perform. It was the first
significant piece for solo flute after the Sonata in A minor composed by C. P.
E. Bach 150 years before (1763), and it is the first such solo composition for
the modern Bhm flute, perfected in 1847.[1]
Syrinx is commonly considered to be an indispensable part of
any flautist's repertoire. Many musical historians believe that "Syrinx", which
gives the performer generous room for interpretation and emotion, played a
pivotal role in the development of solo flute music in the early twentieth
century. Some say Syrinx was originally written by Debussy without barlines
or breath marks[citation needed]. The flautist Marcel Moyse may have later
added these, and most publishers publish Moyse's edition.
The piece is commonly performed off stage, as it is thought when Debussy
dedicated the piece to the flautist Louis Fleury, it was for him to play during
the interval of one of Debussy's ballets.
Syrinx was written as incidental music to the uncompleted
play Psych by Gabriel Mourey, and was originally called "Flte de Pan".
Since one of Debussy's Chansons de Bilitis had already been given that title,
however, it was given its final name in reference to the myth of the amorous

pursuit of the nymph Syrinx by the god Pan, in which Pan falls in love with
Syrinx, however, as Syrinx does not return the love to Pan, she turns herself
into a water reed and hides in the marshes. Pan cuts the reeds to make his
pipes, in turn killing his love.
Syrinx has also been transposed and performed on the saxophone and other
instruments. It quickly became a piece of standard literature for the
saxophone, and has been recorded on both the alto and soprano
saxophones.