3-2 Milestone Two: Musical Interpretation
Julie Beck
MUS-223
SNHU
Professor Foust
3/20/2022
2
Musical Interpretation: Sorcerers ' Apprentice
The Sorcerers 'Apprentice is an amazing musical composition that tells the story of a
sorcerer that turns a broomstick into a servant. One day the sorcerers' apprentice overhears the
magic spell the sorcerer used and when the sorcerer is gone one day the apprentice, tries the spell
out. Much to the apprentices' surprise the broomstick comes to life and starts bringing in water to
fill his bath. The only problem is the apprentice has no idea how to stop the spell. In his panic he
chops the broomstick up into many tiny pieces and much to his dismay the pieces continue to
bring the water. In the middle of the chaos the sorcerer returns, and the apprentice tells him he
cannot stop it. The sorcerer says the magic word, and everything goes back to normal.
The music follows the narrative of the poem masterfully. In the introduction, the softness
of the strings paints a magical atmosphere that we are in, while the flute, oboe and clarinet create
the sound that will become the unstoppable broom. The tempo quickens suddenly to represent
the apprentice when he used the sorcerers' spell, with the muted bass becoming the magic spell
Then there is a sudden silent, the bassoon begins to play the brooms theme, the music becomes
complete chaos as the broom is flooding the house with water. You hear the orchestra get more
chaotic, then the orchestra is quiet until the final outburst signals the end of the story. The
instruments used in the Sorcerers ' Apprentice consist of flutes and piccolo, oboes, soprano
clarinets, bass clarinets, bassoons, counter bassoon, horns, trombones, trumpets, coronets
timpani glockenspiel, bass drum, cymbals, triangle, harp, and strings, that together create a
beautiful piece of music. The piece does a wonderful job of telling the story and painting the
images in the mind of the listener.
I have always loved this song and loved watching the scenes that go with it in Fantasia.
The music keeps me on the edge of my seat every time I hear it just knowing what is going to
happen as I have for many years. This story makes me think of and respect the learning and
experience it takes to master a craft and that we should not meddle in things we do not
understand as we can cause all kinds of chaos.
Counts, J. (2021, September 22). DUKAS: The Sorcerer 's Apprentice. Utah Symphony
https://utahsymphony.org/explore/2021/09/dukas-the-sorcerers-apprentice/
Runyan, W. (2017). The Sorcerer 's Apprentice | Runyan Program Notes. Runyan Program Notes
https://www.runyanprogramnotes.com/paul-dukas/sorcerers-apprentice
The sorcerers 'Apprentice- Paul Dukas (Music Composition Techniques Analysis). (n.d.). Any
Old Music. https://anyoldmusic.com/the-sorcerers-apprentice-paul-dukas-music-
composition-techniques-analysis/#:~:text=The%20apprentice%20fells%20the%20broom
%2C%20splitting%20it%20in,the%20enchantment%20and%20the%20flooding%20of
%20their%20workshop.