It is said to have been inspired by Gabriel Mourey (1865-1943), a poet and critic from Marseille, and his early collection of poems, Voix éparses – Adagio, Feuilles mortes, Croquis rêvés[2] (published in 1883). Debussy and Mourey had a deep friendship; the solo flute piece Syrinx (composed in 1913, published in 1927) was written as incidental music for the poet's verse drama Psyché. In the opening four measures, a motif of falling leaves appears, gradually descending at a leisurely tempo. The tranquility that constantly accompanies this motif inevitably evokes a sense of melancholy. In contrast, the middle section, while possessing a certain gravity, acquires a certain drive and dynamism with the addition of staccato notes and 32nd-note passages (measures 19-40) (see musical example).

Musical Example: Measures 19-23