Paul Dukas (1865-1935) conducted the successful premiere of this composition in 1897. Its subtitle is “Scherzo after a Goethe ballad.” The literary inspiration was of such importance to Dukas that he had the French translation of the poem placed on the frontispiece of the published score. The ballad is about a sorcerer's apprentice who, when his ancient employer leaves home, tries his hand with some magic of his own. A broom obeys the magic word and does what it is commanded. So the lad orders it to carry water into the bath. This is all very well, but he doesn't know how to persuade the diligent broom to stop, and the broom keeps on carrying water until the house is drenched. The apprentice then attempts to solve the problem with an axe but that just creates two diligent water carrying brooms! Luckily, the sorcerer returns in the nick of time to put things to right: “To the side / Of the room / Hasten, broom, / As of old! / Spirits I have ne'er untied / Save to act as they are told.” 

The characteristic galloping motif is present virtually continuously throughout this diabolic scherzo (either as variations or details of the theme), although Dukas only presents it in its entirety once, on the bassoon. The constant presence of the thematic material obscures the fact that Dukas is employing a traditional three unit scherzo form. In the trio, a new tonality is heard (C minor), the orchestration alters (pizzicato lower strings, woodwind and bells), but the basic pulse and metre (which matches the mood of the verse) is unchanged.

The music presents a very suggestive and comprehensible interpretation of the Goethe ballad and remains unchallenged as Dukas's most popular work.