Clair de Lune for Classical Ukulele

Clair de Lune

Debussy’s Clair de Lune is one of the most popular pieces ever written for the piano. It is the third movement of his Suite Bergamasque and inspired by Paul Verlaine’s 1869 poem of the same name. The title means “moonlight” in French, which Verlaine in his poem calls “triste et beau,” sad and beautiful.

However, the original title when Debussy first penned the suite was different. First, it was called “Promenade Sentimentale,” or sentimental stroll. Debussy must have been quite fond of Verlaine’s poem. Not only did he change the title of this piece, but he also set two different versions of the poem to piano and voice. The “bergamasque” from the title of the suite is a Renaissance dance from Bergamo in Italy.

Clair de Lune on Ukulele

Jeff Peterson’s arrangement for classical ukulele transforms this ethereal piano piece into a tender, heartfelt ballad. It still maintains all the melancholy and beauty of the original, but with a completely different sound and timbre.