Clair de Lune by Debussy is the third movement of the Suite Bergamasque, a four-movement suite for piano.
The four parts of the Suite Bergamasque are:
- Prélude
- Menuet
- Clair De Lune
- Passepied
What is the Meaning of Clair De Lune?
Clair de Lune means “Moonlight”. This composition was initially entitled Promenade sentimentale.
Why Did Debussy Compose Clair de Lune?
When Debussy composed the Clair de Lune he was inspired by a collection of poems written by the French poet Paul Verlaine entitled Fêtes Galantes.
Claude Debussy started writing Clair de Lune in 1890 and he published it 15 years later in 1905.
What Type of Music is Clair de Lune?
Clair de Lune is an impressionist piano classical piece, in other words, it belongs to the period of impressionism (late 19th century).
How Long Does it Take to Master Clair de Lune?
It obviously depends on the skillset of the pianist. With the right level of skillset, it can take up to 6 months to master Clair de Lune.
Is Clair de Lune for Piano Beginners?
No, the original version of Clair de Lune is not easy and it’s not suitable for a piano beginner.
Clair de Lune is an intermediate piano piece and the average pianist needs at least 4-5 years of classical piano practice before being able to play it.
Is Clair de Lune Written in a Major Key?
The key of Clair de Lune is D-flat Major. This means that the notes that are flat in Clair de Lune are: B, E, A, D, and G.
Which one is the First Note of Clair de Lune?
As you can see from the picture below, Clair de Lune starts with the notes F and A flat in the left hand.
Has Clair de Lune been used in the movie Twilight?
Yes, Clair de Lune has been used in the movie Twilight. It was played when Bella goes to Edward’s house for the first time due to the romantic atmosphere that this solo piano piece creates.
Where Can You Get the Music Sheet for Clair de Lune?
You can get the piano music sheet for Clair de Lune here on Amazon.
Enjoy the adventure of learning Clair de Lune!