Debussy ~ Le Martyre de Saint Sebastien - Fragments Symphoniques ~ Complete

Le Martyre de Saint Sebastien ("The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian") is a play, with the music written by Debussy, based upon the man, Sebastian, who died during the Roman rule of Israel in the 3rd century; he died a martyr.

The story goes (for a lot is speculation and folk-lore or tales that were passed down over time) that Sebastian encouraged several Christians who were slated to die for their beliefs to keep the faith and not to recant in order to save their lives. He also, apperantly, helped in the healing of woman mute for six years.

Sebastian was taken to a field where he was tied to a stake and arrows were shot at him, so many that he resembled a porcupine, until he was dead. But he did not die, or so it was said. As a local widow went to collect his remains for burial she found that he was not dead and was nursed back to health.

After recovering, he continued healing and speaking. This is when, so legend goes, the Emporer whom Sebastian knew had condemned him to death by arrows, walked past and Sebastian harassed the Emporer bringing on arrest and a beating, this time to death.

His body was recovered by assistance of an appearance of the Saint telling of where his body could be found and, thus, be buried among other believers.

The play was not well received, but the music is absolutely amazing and the reduction of the 5 act play to a suite of 4 pieces by Debussy made for some of his most original and amazing music which is little known; such a shame.

So, here you have, in it's entirety, Le Martyre de Saint Sebastien, Fragments Symphoniques - an Orchestral Suite.

Esa-Pekka Salonen leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic in this performance.

Part I ~ Prelude ~ La Cour des Lys ("The Court of the Lillies").
Part II ~ Danse extatique et Finale du Premiere Acte ("Ecstatic Dance and First Act Finale)
Part III ~ La passion ("The passion")
Part IV ~ Le bon pasteur ("The good pasture")

Enjoy!