Clair de lune (incipit)

C. DebussyL. 75 No. 3

Key

Db

Time

9/8

Tempo

♩=50

AO focus

AO3

Form

Ternary ABA' from Suite bergamasque. Atmospheric impressionist piano.

Teaching points

• Compound triple meter (9/8) — three beats of three eighths each
• Modal harmony with parallel triads — characteristic Debussy
• Pedalled throughout — hear how harmonies blur into each other