Claude Debussy: "Claire de Lune"

Nothing presaged that the child Achille-Claude Debussy, eventually an author of more than 800 works for orchestra, instrumental works and chamber music, was destined to music. His genealogy pointed to anything but art. Born in 1862 in a small town on the banks of the Seine, his great-grandfather had started a locksmith's workshop in Paris after marrying the daughter of a carpenter, and an uncle of him also handled the noble craftmanship of carpentry.

Claude's father, meanwhile, enrolled very young in the marine infantry and then tried his luck in a wide range of occupations. When the events of the Paris Commune unleashed in 1871, he also wanted to hold the sky in his hands and therefore joined the ranks of the rebels. The failed uprising ended with him being tried and sent to jail for a year. But it happened that the mother of another Communard prisoner became interested in the family of her son's fellow. A disciple of Chopin –according to herself–, she immediately noticed the musical disposition of little Claude.

Claude Debussy (1862 - 1918)

Madame Mauté de Fleurville (that was the name of the so-called disciple of Chopin), prepared Claude Debussy for free to enter the Paris Conservatoire, what Claude finally made in 1872.
Eight years later, a great Russian lady, Nadezhda von Meck, a friend and patroness of Tchaikovsky, asked the Conservatory to provide a young pianist to give lessons to her children. The chosen one was young Claude. The following year, Mrs. von Meck invited him to join her on a trip to Moscow. The following summer, Claude was invited again, so his self-confidence surely did experience a huge leap. And then, he made the mistake.
With surprising boldness, Claude dared to ask Mrs. von Meck for the hand of her daughter Sonia. Mrs. von Meck listened to his request as she watched the garden through the windows. Then she turned his head and asked Claude if he would not mind going back to Paris on the next train.

Claire de Lune, from the Suite Bergamasque
The famous Claire de Lune by Debussy is one of the four pieces that make up the Suite Bergamasque, although the initial project of 1890 did not include it. In a much later revision, in 1905, Debussy replaced two of the four original pieces. Claire de Lune is one of these replacements and is the piece that, ultimately, made the entire suite popular.

The rendition is by the American pianist Thomas Labé.

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