“Clair De Lune” – Claude Debussy

Claude Debussy

“Clair De Lune”, translated from French as “moonlight”, is the 3rd movement in Debussy’s “Suite Bergamasque”, and one of the most globally recognized piano compositions. Most people have heard of it because, as it’s just so well constructed in it’s fluidity and grace it’s always slipped into the background of films. Seen Ocean’s 11? When Danny and Rusty are walking through emotional sunlight with the others? Ol’ Debus is filling that cinema. Although, there is a cover performed by Arthur Fiedler, and with it’s full orchestra accompaniment it actually trumps the original in my opinion. I mean, any cover with an orchestra would. Most people would probably assume Debussy as a bit of a classical one-hit wonder and I suppose in some ways he is. Yet it doesn’t take very long to find similarly elegant pieces, such as his nocturne (compositions evoked by the night), or his waltz “Valse Romantique”. The way in which ‘Clair De Lune’ just keeps ascending and changing in key, speed and volume just rips your hairs right out of your back. It really exists as a unique track, very discernible from many alternate compositions from other composers and his own works alike. Although Debussy hardly restricted himself to piano alone, through his life he wrote chamber, orchestral and vocal music pieces, as well as several operas based on stories by Edgar Allen Poe. The man surely marked a burning impression on impressionist music, and being one of it’s most prominent figures he really was, excuse the French, a fucking beautiful Frenchman.