Des pas sur la neige

Claude Debussy's sixth Prélude "Des pas sur la neige" (footprints in the snow) was written in 1909-1910. The titles (actually epilogues because Debussy always places them at the end of each Prélude) of these piano pieces are no programmatic description but rather poetic means of association. The Prélude presented here beautifully reveals Debussy's conception of music saying that music consists of colours and time made rhythmic. According to the composer's words, the ostinato rhythm should sound as if it came from the depths of a sad and ice-covered landscape, and I found it an interesting task to reshape this frozen winter scenery with flute sounds.