In 1897 Dukas wrote another work for orchestra , L'apprenti sorcier ( English : The Sorcerer 's Apprentice ) based on Goethe 's poem `` Der Zauberlehrling '' . The symphony was followed by another orchestral work , by far the best known of Dukas 's compositions , his scherzo for orchestra , L'apprenti sorcier ( The Sorcerer 's Apprentice ) ( 1897 ) , a short piece ( lasting for between 10 and 12 minutes in performance ) based on Goethe 's poem `` Der Zauberlehrling '' .