Clair de Lune by Debussy (Intermediate)

Get the sheet music here.

What is the meaning of Clair de lune in English?

“Clair de lune” is French for “moonlight” or literally the “light of the moon.” Learn more about Claire de lune here.

Is Clair de lune easy to play on piano?

No version of “Clair de lune” is easy to play. The original version is around six pages long and uses D-flat major (five flats) and C# minor (four sharps) key signatures. This intermediate version is much shorter and is only one page long. It also uses a C major (no sharps or flats) key signature, so it’s definitely easier than the original version. It still has its own challenges and should be learned by a student with piano experience (around Hoffman Academy’s Unit 15 or above). These challenges include playing chords, playing in a 9/8 time signature, switching between triplets and duplets, using ties and slurs correctly, moving around the keyboard from one hand position to another, playing with dynamics, and more. 

What piano level is Clair de lune?

The original version of “Clair de lune” is an advanced level piece according to the leveling system of Hoffman Academy. This intermediate adaptation would fall around Unit 15 and while it’s not exactly easy, it is simpler than Debussy’s original version.

Why is Clair de lune so special?

“Clair de lune” is a special piece of music because of its beauty and popularity. Probably one of the most popular pieces of western classical piano music, “Clair de lune” is evocative of a night underneath the moon and the stars. It’s easy to imagine that image while listening, and the enchanting melody stays in your mind long after you’ve heard it.

What key is Clair de lune in?

This version of “Clair de lune” is in C major, but it does not stay in one pentascale or one hand position and moves around the keyboard throughout the piece.

Should you use a pedal in Clair de lune?

Since this piece of music is written in the impressionist style, it is completely appropriate to use the pedal. Impressionist music is so named because the music is supposed to sound like an impressionist watercolor painting. Using the pedal appropriately helps this piece to have that sound. While using the pedal, it’s important to lift and replay the pedal every time the chord changes.

Transcript

Hi, I'm Stephanie with Hoffman Academy.
Today I'm going to show you the piece "Clair de Lune".
This incredibly famous song by the french composer Claude Debussy is six pages long and very complex.
So hopefully we can learn it in 20 minutes.
Don't worry we've shortened it for you.
This is a simplified one-page version, and will give you a taste of what it would be like to play the whole song
while you build your piano skills up to that level. I'm excited to explore these gorgeous harmonies with you.
First thing to note is the time signature is 9/8.
That means nine beats per measure, and the eighth note gets the beat.
Now that's a lot to count.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9.
It's also hard to see.
So, we group it into groups of 3.
If you'll notice this group of three notes is barred together, then the next group of three is barred together,
and the next group of three.
This helps us see 3 bigger beats within the 9 beats.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9, and that helps us feel the general
beat of the song.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9,
but regardless,
this song is very expressive.
So you won't have to be counting the beat very strictly.
What you should be concerned more about is what order the notes are played in.
For instance, the left hand is played before the right hand for most of the song.
You'll have the left hand first.
The left hand changes.
Left hand changes again.
Left hand again.
I'll continue, the left-hand starts.
and then for the first time they play together.
And together again, but most of the time the left hand is being played first.
So if you want to you, can draw vertical lines in your music.
Where you can't really tell which hand is playing, just draw a vertical line and you'll see.
The last thing I have to tell you is ties.
When things are tied together, you don't play the second set of notes.
Now for a lot of students, this is hard to see at first. It's hard to see the tie, and even though you see those two notes,
you're not supposed to play them, right?
If you need to, take your pencil and just cross out the second set of notes just to remind yourself don't play those sets o ...