Clair de Lune

Clair de Lune, the third and most famous movement from Debussy's Suite Bergamasque, is now available for flute or violin with piano accompaniment. Composed in 1890 when Debussy was 28 years old, this masterpiece was not published until 1903. Clair de Lune has been featured in films, commercials, and television shows for decades. It has most recently experienced a revival in popular movies such as Ocean's Eleven & Twilight.

Originally written for piano, this challenging classic is arranged for trumpet, clarinet, alto sax, trombone, flute or violin, with piano accompaniment. This intermediate flute or violin solo will surely impress. It is ideal for recitals, auditions and concertperformances. It is widely believed that Debussy was inspired by the Paul Verlaine's poem of the same name. The quiet, rolling melody and fantastical nature of the mood it evokes speaks to the dream-like landscape that Verlaine references—a landscape where costumed figures dance and play in the moonlight.

Claude Debussy was born in St. Germain-en-Laye, France, on August 22, 1862. He died in Paris on March 25, 1918. Debussy is often regarded as the creator of musical impressionism although he denied being described as such. However, it is undeniable that after his early regard for Wagner vanished, he came under the influence of Mallarme, Verlains, etc., and coloring became more important to him than form. Debussy's use of the pentatonic and whole-tone scales as well as consecutive intervals of various kinds lent his music an uncommon coloring.

Some feel his style lends itself to imitation, thereby halting any further developments. This sentiment is not entirely true. Successful composers like Ravel, Bartok and Stravinsky have all found inspiration in Debussy's pieces. Instead of halting any further developments in Impressionism, these composers used Debussy's works to develop musical styles such as Neo-Classicism, Expressionism, and Serial Music.