Have you learned how to play Clair de Lune? Or maybe you've been working on it and it's not there yet? Keep working! You WILL absolutely get there. If you want a little help along the way, go here- cornellmusicacademy.com/blackfriday
I adore this song as it feels like nostalgia and loosing a loved one. This one will always remind me of my cat who passed away, real cry cry material this song.
Claire de Lune was my grandfather's favorite tune and it was played at my wedding. My mother had recorded a version of her playing it on an 8-track tape back in the '70s for my grandfather for father's day. My mother passed away when I was 15, but I was able to borrow the 8-track tape and digitize my mother's version of the song. So when I walked down the aisle, it was my mother playing Claire de Lune.
I’m working on the next 2 measures which are way harder because the left hand has to move a lot more, but it’s so satisfying because I really feel like I’m becoming a far better player the more I practice it.
Clair de Lune was one of the first "real" pieces I've played and honestly I completely agree with you! It teaches a pianist so many important and nuanced things within technique which become invaluable in future playing. On top of that, it sounds beautiful. Truely an amazing piece of music
This is one of those pieces which shows that music doesn't need to be hard to be beautiful. And it doesn't have to be hard to be "hard", as in learning the flow, feel, and keyboarding timing/pressures that turn it from an exercise to an emotion.
Agreed. Feel free to watch (and rip to shreds) my uploaded YT video of my playing of this piece. It's something I could play forever and still not get perfect.
I love how Charles explors all the different corners of music from classical to jazz to your favorite theme songs. It's awesome what you're doing man keep it up.
Yeah, like what percent of music sales? Definitely less than 5%. Maybe even less than 1%. Did you miss my point or something? The audience has overlap. They're both "art music"
What I've always found so fascinating about Clair de Lune is that, depending on the level in which you engage with the piece, it can kinda be as easy or as hard as you want it to be, because most of the difficulty and complexity of the piece is hidden from less skilled players. This means that on the more novice side of playing, it's a famous and beautiful classical piece that you can actually successfully engage with and achieve playing, while still offering near limitless depth of expressive complexity to masters of their craft. It actually kinda blows my mind as to how Debussy managed to do that so well here.
As a beginner I would disagree with the idea that it can be as easy as you want haha.. believe me, there is a lower bound to how easy you can make it to play this piece if you’re not significantly skilled.
"Suite Bergamasque" is one of my most favorite piano works. Love how Debussy just tucked "Clair de Lune" in there. But no way of keeping that musical jewel from outshining everything.
The movement of the Suite that proved my undoing was the “Menuette.” The “Prelude,” “Clair de Lune,” and “Passepied,” which is the one I loved best to play, came to me more easily than I’d feared, but the “Menuette” simply surpassed my abilities.
This is probably the most beautiful piano piece in my opinion. I have a deep personal connection to it and everytime I hear it somewhere, it alsways makes me sad and melancholic. It's just so beautiful
3:18 Wait! Fascinatingly, while you are right, did you know Debussy himself didn't intend the chords to be played perfectly together? He rolled them! In this piece, pretty much all of them. Regardless of the notation. This gives up on the "clarity aspect" you mention, but instead sets a different mood, and that's what he prioritized. We know it simply from... listening to his fantastic playing! There's a 100+ years old recording of his performance of that piece😮 now you know!
I believe this was a piano roll indeed! The tempo felt surprisingly natural in his interpretation. Perhaps because he never heard his piece played by an elevator.
I actually have found out that that video is a bit of a fraud. There is a comment that claims that the recording is by another pianist, because, while Debussy did record a couple pieces , he didn't record Clair de Lune
@@TheUltimateLegend7 I just did a little research... and indeed it seems like Clair de Lune was never recorded by him. Reliable lists of his piano rolls don't include it. Very sad. Thank you for that comment! I must admit though, I still love the free tempi and expressive rubato... and rolling, of course!
@meemaurice I also greatly appreciated the comment that shed light on that video. And, yes, I do quite like that interpretation, but it is unfortunate it is wrongly accredited to Debussy.
I remember playing this for the first time, i thought i wasn't ready for such a piece, but then i started playing it and it was easier than it seemed! It really opened the doors for me as a pianist and a musician.
For real? That's exactly how I feel right now. I don't think I'm ready for this piece, but all these encouraging videos are coming into my feed. And rn I feel way more confident to try this piece out
@@pats7427 it seems harder than it is. I had been thinking same as you before I tried to actually learn it. When I started for the first time I ended up on 1+ minute and coudlnt go further. But 3 weeks ago I sat to that piece again and changed few things about my training and I am already at 2:40 so it is really possible to learn. What you have to focus on while learning this piece is just to pracitice it really slowly and pay attention to how you put your fingers during playing some parts. Try it out it's worth it because playing thay piece gives you so much sattisfaction. Good luck.
@@pats7427 after fully learning clair de lune i think imma take a shot at chopin's ballade no. 1 but that piece seems impossible to me. But still imma try it because i love this piece
This was one of my mother's favorite pieces, brings a tear to my eye every time. Means a lot to learn about the mechanics of why we both found it so beautiful, thank you Charles.
This is my all time favorite piano piece and one of the main reasons I even started to play the piano. Thx for covering that amazing piece of music Charles!
clair de lune is one of my all time favorite classical pieces. every time i hear it i get swept away with feelings of sadness and melancholy and i get teary-eyed. such a beautiful composition
This is what all piano students need! What a brilliant way to explain the mechanics of sounding good. So many classical pieces for Charles to explain and enthuse us with - the possibilities are endless!
I recently discovered your channel. I do not play piano, and yet I watch your videos in absolute fascination. Music is so powerful. The way you explain the complexities of the music, the mechanics of playing it, but most importantly your passion and enthusiasm for it is what keeps bringing me back. I don't have the training, but I find such joy when I react the same way to the music as you do, and then I get to hear the explanation for why I recognized something that you pointed out without the understanding beforehand. Anyway, long winded way of saying I'm enjoying your videos as a fellow music lover. (Especially Jazz!)
I loved this from start to finish. I've worked on this piece in the past and got it to some sort of semi-reasonable presentability, but you've made me want to start again and really give it the attention it deserves. Your enthusiasm is very contagious.
I've played piano and been self taught for 7 years. I always love watching your videos because I learn something new everytime. I never knew that "flamming" notes, so to speak, could fundamentally change the feeling of a phrase or entire song so much because of the natural undulation of ringing notes. Thank you so much! 🙏
Claire de Lune is THE song to remind me how happy I am to be alive. Like of all the ages of history, I was born in one where I can enjoy this wonderful song. I'm still working on learning it myself.
This piece has a special place in my heart because my Grandmother recommended I learn it, it was my first piece I chose to learn, I was JUST at the point of confidence that I was reaching beyond the student music books my teacher was leading me through. I remember struggling with what song to learn as my first chosen piece to learn and when I listened to it for the first time, I almost cried at how beautiful it sounded, I still have it memorized. Now when I play it, I play it to remember my grandmother.
thank you for alligning your hands with the green notes when you did, its less abrasive on my brain than the backwards look when youre facing the camera and showing the notes played beneath. 💖
Thanks for breaking this one down. It’s long been one of my favorites. I stopped playing piano about 30 years ago and I’m starting to pick it up again. This is one of the first songs I got the sheet music to since regaining my interest. Sitting back down to it recently made me realize how much I’ve lost in ability to read music, but conversely how much more I can play by intuition now than before. Seeing you break down all the difficult to read bits into “it’s just this chord” really helped.
I've been playing piano since I was 5, and I have a degree in Piano Performance, but I've NEVER before heard a good explanation for hitting notes at exactly the same time so they can ring in synchronous waves. Wonderful explanation!
With it's odd time signature, this piece is so emotionally expressive. There's additional freedom to alter the pace and volume to add even more expression. My wife can be moved to tears when I play this, though I only learned the first half of it.
'Accessible' is the right word! If you've studied the piano seriously for quite a while it takes less time to learn than other pieces but still has a lot of depth to it if you want to really play it convincingly (which I'm still working on!). Love this piece, one of my favourites.
I learned this in high school, and I felt so “grown up” playing it. Playing this piece is very nostalgic for me even though it’s been many many years since and my piano skills have much decayed lol. Beautiful video.
This is my favorite piece of all time. I played it for my piano recital in my freshmen year of high school, and afterward, my friend’s grandma came up to me and said that it made her cry, because it was her grandmother’s favorite song. From that point on, I never stopped practicing it.
It makes my heart dance in delight, hearing your joy and enthusiasm describe each note and cord. Your love of piano and sharing your knowledge and the great pleasure it brings, is so inspiring. Thank you! ✨
I was already in love with this masterpiece but your analysis makes me even more happy that someone like you is able to elaborate the same feelings that I'm having when i listen to Claire de lune. So good job dude!👏
Last year I learnt this song to play at my grandma's funeral and for me I was quite scared picking it up as it seemed quite complex and I'd never played it before, but I realised fairly early on that learning the notes was relatively straight forward which allowed me time to go into the complexities of voicing. This piece will always hold a special place in my heart.
I don't play the piano, and I wouldn't even attempt to learn this, but I can tell you that this magical song is my absolute go-to when I really need to find tranquility. To me, it is perfect. ❤
This was the first proper piece I learnt in years. Looking back now, i probably learnt it too early, but it opened my love to classical piano and music in general, so overall, I love this
I really recommend the Lang Lang’s version of this piece (the one where he’s on a boat). It’s my favorite version, his dynamics are insane and the slow flexible tempo he chose is perfect.
For me - the ultimate Clair de Lune was played by Khatia Buniatishvili on her Motherland album, the tempo, the clarity, the soul - eeverything about those five and a half minutes is just utter perfection.
I love how every pianist playing the intro to Clair de Lune has to do the "smell your own fart" face. You know, when the fart is your own, so you just want to rate it. (0:42)
This is my absolute favorite piece! Thank you for explaining the beauty of this piece. I am still working on getting it the way I like it. This gives me inspiration to go practice piano after a long while. Thank you!
I think you should try and make videos about classical pieces more often! I would definetly watch haha, cause in that era obviously alot of stuff was different from modern, so i find it just so interesting.
There is a great quote from Plato that is particularly important for us to know and always remember: “Beauty in style, harmony, grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity.”
Clair de Lune is a beautiful piece not only because it is not complex and hard to play but also because it IS complex in the feelings it evokes. I am sure that if a baby were to listen to this piece, they wouldn't understand it beyond it being a beautiful piece simply because the song brings up something that can only be felt by living life a bit. Melody which could of course begin a beautiful discussion on how life - in its more than immense complexity - shows simplicity. How some straightforward conclusions can be drawn from the most complex events and vice-versa... But that's beyond the point. Its a great piece.
I studied Jeux d'eau few years ago, and it's very hard. But all the complexity of the piece has an amazing musical result, because the way Ravel construct the arpeggios make the music sound a lot with water. It's an amazing piece, love Gaspard de la Nuit too.
Great video. I learned a simplified/ condensed version from another source, but your coverage of this song convinced me I need to get it in gear to learn the full version.
Clair de Lune is my all-time favorite piece. It somehow portrays my soul and gives my heart directions while also being so much more meaningful every time I listen to it. The only piece that I have listened to dozens of times but still, it has more things to say, and it still amazes me. I wish I can create something like this, something that finds a place in so many people's hearts and will be reminiscent of the delicate beauty of exquisite music.
Debussy is all about color. My introduction to Debussy as a young piano student was “Reverie” which is also an “easy” piece note-wise, but complex in getting the voicing, melody and finger sustain just right (don’t let the pedal make it mushy!). Debussy is probably my favorite composer, so thanks for doing this video.
When I first heard this piece in its entirety in a concert (because movies and tv shows always take snippets of it, but not the whole thing. I’ve “known” of it but not the full thing) in college when I was studying music (saxophone performance and music education) I was the guy trying to pretend that I wasn’t crying. Might quite possibly be my favorite piece of all time and it’s not really even close. The emotion that this piece elicits is absolutely astounding. Every chord, every note… just beautiful. Thank you for sharing this, makes me feel like I can maybe buy a keyboard and learn how to play it someday!
My wife’s grandfather played piano before he passed. They were all incredibly close and even played his recorded version of Claire De Lune at his funeral. They even pressed it on to vinyl for my wife. This was like 5-6 years ago…she’s yet to listen to it because it’s too difficult.
Man, your comments and review of this song is amazing, you really put a lot of passion into teaching and explaining, thank you so much, I'll surely be coming back to more of your videos in the future. I like that you showed the original version and not some modified adaptation for sale like other RUclipsrs do. You've also encouraged me to get back and master this piece, which I always wanted but never got past the first half. Thanks!!
As soon as I began learning this piece, I knew I wanted to play piano for the rest of my life. It was the piece that influenced me to keep learning and playing new music every day. Now piano playing is my favorite thing ever. Thanks a lot for talking about it! It has really touched my life in a big way...
I love Clare de Lune, unfortunately i’ve mostly forgotten how to play it. You’re right, there are many nuances that is difficult to pick up on, and it’s these nuances that if played correctly, make the piece incredibly beautiful. When i listen to the recording i made, it just doesn’t compare to a pro’s sound. Like Charles said there’s another level to it, just playing the notes isn’t enough.
I'd recommend featuring some of these exquisite pieces: Op. 10, No. 3 (Tristesse) - Chopin regarded it as having his finest melody. Ballade No. 1 or 4 - among his most intricate compositions, arguably some of the best for piano. Prelude in E minor delivers a a simple melody but decorated with a very clever and unique harmony. Prelude in F sharp minor. Mazurka in A minor. Prelude in B minor has a jazzy vibe with its complex melody and bouncy feel. Scherzo no 2. Nocturne in c minor. Wrong note etude. Finally, Nocturne in E-flat major stands out as Chopin's most renowned work.
Playing this on piano, shaping the feel of the moods in your hands of that longing, is a wonderful experience with Clair de Lune. Playing this on organ is an out of body experience especially with the right approach to this, getting that French feel with celestes and string stops opposing it with flutes. Thanks for breaking down the sections and bringing out it's "visuals" of how it's painting those moods.
As a music major that hated having to learn to play piano, I absolutely loved this piece. I marched in Drum and Bugle Corps (Phantom Regiment) and we played a version of this that made me love it even more. Really appreciated this break down. Well done!
What a JOY to watch this video... I just LOVE how you are so deeply moved by the beauty of the notes. I just bought a Yamaha DGX-670. I purchased the wooden stand that comes with it so that it stands as a one piece unit. I do not know how to play... but this piece is my GOAL piece. I suspect it will take at least 3 years of adult learning from basically the beginning to even attempt a try at it.
Hi Charles I HIGHLY recommend you watch and analyze platina jazz they are a band that makes jazz and big band covers of anime music and they are GREAT and I think it could be interesting for you to analyze how they changed and covered things you already listened to and to some things you haven't
In case you do decide to look into this i recommend you try listening to their galaxy express cover, their sailor moon cover and their evangelion cover for starters but all of their stuff is great
You pointed out many marvelous things I hadn't considered. Brilliant insights ! Added another dimension when I didn't know more was possible . Thanks !
When I was in college I knew a guy who was a bit of a comedian mostly, but he could silence a rowdy frat house by playing 2 pieces: Claire de lune and the 1st mvt of Moonlight sonata. They may have been the only piano he could play, but he could silence the room.
I never learned the full piece, only the first portion back when I started learning how to play the piano. Definitely gonna go back and learn the full piece, it’s beautifully awesome!
This song sparks so much emotion in me and I have no idea why. I have no real memories associated with it, but it is such a beautiful piece, it just gets me every time.
You are a gem, Charles. As far as the twentieth century goes, impressionism was probably*the* most important movement within 'classical' music because it opened doors through which other composers and styles could step through. I love Sibelius, Vaughan-Williams, Bartok, Rachmaninoff, Gershwin, Shostakovich, Delius and many others but Debussy definitely is way up there. When I was a much younger man I went through several years of depression and panic attacks. I would play 'A l'apres midi d'un Faune' every night and be swept away, not to spectate on another world but to become an actual part of it. Over a period of time it played its part in my regaining some degree of control over my overactive and overwhelmed mind.
I am an early intermediate level and have just started working on this piece for all the reason you cited. This is giving me a lot of energy and resolve!
This just popped up on my suggested videos - it was so interesting! Especially the part about emphasizing the melody with the weight of your fingers when playing those octaves. I have attempted Clair de Lune, but now I'm going to really learn it!
Currently trying to play this and this video is lowkey a masterclass. You brought things to my attention I have completely overlooked! Like the weighting of the top melody instead of just hammering away the block chords. Very interesting, thank you!!
Have you learned how to play Clair de Lune? Or maybe you've been working on it and it's not there yet? Keep working! You WILL absolutely get there. If you want a little help along the way, go here- cornellmusicacademy.com/blackfriday
Yes, but it only works when I go to sleep
You should look at more classical pieces! I feel like it would be interesting to decipher the harmony, and see how it holds up today.
yep i learned it
I adore this song as it feels like nostalgia and loosing a loved one. This one will always remind me of my cat who passed away, real cry cry material this song.
@@nates2 damn im sorry for your loss
Claire de Lune was my grandfather's favorite tune and it was played at my wedding.
My mother had recorded a version of her playing it on an 8-track tape back in the '70s for my grandfather for father's day. My mother passed away when I was 15, but I was able to borrow the 8-track tape and digitize my mother's version of the song. So when I walked down the aisle, it was my mother playing Claire de Lune.
Beautiful❤️
❤
Beautiful ❤️ So sorry she metamorphosed so early
Lovely story ❤
*grabs Kleenex*
I feel really personally attacked by the thumbnail, because that's the exact part of the song where I started having a lot of trouble and gave up,
I’m working on the next 2 measures which are way harder because the left hand has to move a lot more, but it’s so satisfying because I really feel like I’m becoming a far better player the more I practice it.
i thought it was really hard initially. with not much prior practice it was first piece i learned. just keep playing.
Probably cause you call it a song 😤
I find this bit tricky too. The early part rubato and doesn't need to be as fast and fluid, but if you drag in this bit it doesn't sound good.
i used to think that. but after brainwashing myself for literally months I ended up learning it. I still don't know how I did it xd
The first time I successfully got through this song in one take it ended in tears. Clair de Lune is so rich in emotion, which makes me wanna SOB.
Very jealous. Congrats for conquering it!
I misread "SOB" as son of a bitch. Still works. lol.
this is the first piece that made me really feel a lot of emotion behind it
This isn’t a song
It's the first piece I play when trying out a piano🎹🎶
Clair de Lune was one of the first "real" pieces I've played and honestly I completely agree with you! It teaches a pianist so many important and nuanced things within technique which become invaluable in future playing. On top of that, it sounds beautiful. Truely an amazing piece of music
Truly*
@@charliezard64 you just had to
Trolly@@charliezard64
This is one of those pieces which shows that music doesn't need to be hard to be beautiful. And it doesn't have to be hard to be "hard", as in learning the flow, feel, and keyboarding timing/pressures that turn it from an exercise to an emotion.
Agreed. Feel free to watch (and rip to shreds) my uploaded YT video of my playing of this piece. It's something I could play forever and still not get perfect.
I love how Charles explors all the different corners of music from classical to jazz to your favorite theme songs. It's awesome what you're doing man keep it up.
Classical and jazz are two niche genres with a lot of overlap in audience
“Niche”
“Niche”
“Niche”
Yeah, like what percent of music sales? Definitely less than 5%. Maybe even less than 1%. Did you miss my point or something? The audience has overlap. They're both "art music"
What I've always found so fascinating about Clair de Lune is that, depending on the level in which you engage with the piece, it can kinda be as easy or as hard as you want it to be, because most of the difficulty and complexity of the piece is hidden from less skilled players. This means that on the more novice side of playing, it's a famous and beautiful classical piece that you can actually successfully engage with and achieve playing, while still offering near limitless depth of expressive complexity to masters of their craft. It actually kinda blows my mind as to how Debussy managed to do that so well here.
As a beginner I would disagree with the idea that it can be as easy as you want haha.. believe me, there is a lower bound to how easy you can make it to play this piece if you’re not significantly skilled.
Terribly hard key you're playing this in, just play it in D major.
@@ncard00 fr its harder to read it than to play it (or my reading skill just sucks) (probably both)
"Suite Bergamasque" is one of my most favorite piano works. Love how Debussy just tucked "Clair de Lune" in there. But no way of keeping that musical jewel from outshining everything.
The movement of the Suite that proved my undoing was the “Menuette.” The “Prelude,” “Clair de Lune,” and “Passepied,” which is the one I loved best to play, came to me more easily than I’d feared, but the “Menuette” simply surpassed my abilities.
This is probably the most beautiful piano piece in my opinion. I have a deep personal connection to it and everytime I hear it somewhere, it alsways makes me sad and melancholic. It's just so beautiful
Clair De Lune sounds incredible on the organ as well, look it up.
3:18 Wait! Fascinatingly, while you are right, did you know Debussy himself didn't intend the chords to be played perfectly together? He rolled them! In this piece, pretty much all of them. Regardless of the notation. This gives up on the "clarity aspect" you mention, but instead sets a different mood, and that's what he prioritized. We know it simply from... listening to his fantastic playing! There's a 100+ years old recording of his performance of that piece😮 now you know!
on piano roll right? i think ive heard it and the tempo is surprisingly fast
I believe this was a piano roll indeed! The tempo felt surprisingly natural in his interpretation. Perhaps because he never heard his piece played by an elevator.
I actually have found out that that video is a bit of a fraud. There is a comment that claims that the recording is by another pianist, because, while Debussy did record a couple pieces , he didn't record Clair de Lune
@@TheUltimateLegend7 I just did a little research... and indeed it seems like Clair de Lune was never recorded by him. Reliable lists of his piano rolls don't include it. Very sad. Thank you for that comment!
I must admit though, I still love the free tempi and expressive rubato... and rolling, of course!
@meemaurice I also greatly appreciated the comment that shed light on that video. And, yes, I do quite like that interpretation, but it is unfortunate it is wrongly accredited to Debussy.
Imagine creating that song from scratch from your head.
You’ve been on a roll of amazing videos lately! Getting me heavily into piano and a great source of learning for me
I remember playing this for the first time, i thought i wasn't ready for such a piece, but then i started playing it and it was easier than it seemed! It really opened the doors for me as a pianist and a musician.
For real? That's exactly how I feel right now. I don't think I'm ready for this piece, but all these encouraging videos are coming into my feed. And rn I feel way more confident to try this piece out
@@pats7427 it seems harder than it is. I had been thinking same as you before I tried to actually learn it. When I started for the first time I ended up on 1+ minute and coudlnt go further. But 3 weeks ago I sat to that piece again and changed few things about my training and I am already at 2:40 so it is really possible to learn. What you have to focus on while learning this piece is just to pracitice it really slowly and pay attention to how you put your fingers during playing some parts. Try it out it's worth it because playing thay piece gives you so much sattisfaction. Good luck.
@@pats7427 after fully learning clair de lune i think imma take a shot at chopin's ballade no. 1 but that piece seems impossible to me. But still imma try it because i love this piece
😂
This was one of my mother's favorite pieces, brings a tear to my eye every time. Means a lot to learn about the mechanics of why we both found it so beautiful, thank you Charles.
I really love that although your channel is more focused on jazz, you still target classical pieces which is something I truly love. Thank you so much
This is my all time favorite piano piece and one of the main reasons I even started to play the piano. Thx for covering that amazing piece of music Charles!
clair de lune is one of my all time favorite classical pieces. every time i hear it i get swept away with feelings of sadness and melancholy and i get teary-eyed. such a beautiful composition
This is what all piano students need! What a brilliant way to explain the mechanics of sounding good. So many classical pieces for Charles to explain and enthuse us with - the possibilities are endless!
This song is the reason I started learning piano in the first place. It has always been my goal to be good enough to play this specific piece.
I recently discovered your channel. I do not play piano, and yet I watch your videos in absolute fascination. Music is so powerful. The way you explain the complexities of the music, the mechanics of playing it, but most importantly your passion and enthusiasm for it is what keeps bringing me back. I don't have the training, but I find such joy when I react the same way to the music as you do, and then I get to hear the explanation for why I recognized something that you pointed out without the understanding beforehand. Anyway, long winded way of saying I'm enjoying your videos as a fellow music lover. (Especially Jazz!)
There isn't a SINGLE time I've heard the beginning of this piece and haven't had chills run up my spine.
I loved this from start to finish. I've worked on this piece in the past and got it to some sort of semi-reasonable presentability, but you've made me want to start again and really give it the attention it deserves. Your enthusiasm is very contagious.
I've played piano and been self taught for 7 years. I always love watching your videos because I learn something new everytime. I never knew that "flamming" notes, so to speak, could fundamentally change the feeling of a phrase or entire song so much because of the natural undulation of ringing notes. Thank you so much! 🙏
I love your enthusiasm! You really make the music come alive, thank you!
Claire de Lune is THE song to remind me how happy I am to be alive. Like of all the ages of history, I was born in one where I can enjoy this wonderful song. I'm still working on learning it myself.
This piece has a special place in my heart because my Grandmother recommended I learn it, it was my first piece I chose to learn, I was JUST at the point of confidence that I was reaching beyond the student music books my teacher was leading me through. I remember struggling with what song to learn as my first chosen piece to learn and when I listened to it for the first time, I almost cried at how beautiful it sounded, I still have it memorized. Now when I play it, I play it to remember my grandmother.
thank you for alligning your hands with the green notes when you did, its less abrasive on my brain than the backwards look when youre facing the camera and showing the notes played beneath. 💖
Yes, it used to do my head in too watching a mirror image.
Thanks for breaking this one down. It’s long been one of my favorites. I stopped playing piano about 30 years ago and I’m starting to pick it up again. This is one of the first songs I got the sheet music to since regaining my interest. Sitting back down to it recently made me realize how much I’ve lost in ability to read music, but conversely how much more I can play by intuition now than before. Seeing you break down all the difficult to read bits into “it’s just this chord” really helped.
You playing Clair de Lune for us back in 2020 is my favorite thing you've ever made. I go back to it whenever I need to get calm and centered.
I've been playing piano since I was 5, and I have a degree in Piano Performance, but I've NEVER before heard a good explanation for hitting notes at exactly the same time so they can ring in synchronous waves. Wonderful explanation!
With it's odd time signature, this piece is so emotionally expressive. There's additional freedom to alter the pace and volume to add even more expression. My wife can be moved to tears when I play this, though I only learned the first half of it.
Thank You for finally showing your own playing right side up together with the virtual keyboard. It makes your lesson SO much more effective!
I’m so glad that you toss a little classical into the mix now and then. Thank you
'Accessible' is the right word! If you've studied the piano seriously for quite a while it takes less time to learn than other pieces but still has a lot of depth to it if you want to really play it convincingly (which I'm still working on!). Love this piece, one of my favourites.
I learned this in high school, and I felt so “grown up” playing it. Playing this piece is very nostalgic for me even though it’s been many many years since and my piano skills have much decayed lol. Beautiful video.
This is my favorite piece of all time. I played it for my piano recital in my freshmen year of high school, and afterward, my friend’s grandma came up to me and said that it made her cry, because it was her grandmother’s favorite song. From that point on, I never stopped practicing it.
It makes my heart dance in delight, hearing your joy and enthusiasm describe each note and cord. Your love of piano and sharing your knowledge and the great pleasure it brings, is so inspiring. Thank you! ✨
I'm not a musician, and I'm 61. Clair de Lune still gives me goosebumps.
Clair de lune has the most beautiful first 2 measures of any piece. fight me
This here is about music. Go to Top Rank Boxing for fighting.. But I am really impressed you know every tune!! You must be very old
I was already in love with this masterpiece but your analysis makes me even more happy that someone like you is able to elaborate the same feelings that I'm having when i listen to Claire de lune. So good job dude!👏
Love how excited you become with the beauty
Last year I learnt this song to play at my grandma's funeral and for me I was quite scared picking it up as it seemed quite complex and I'd never played it before, but I realised fairly early on that learning the notes was relatively straight forward which allowed me time to go into the complexities of voicing.
This piece will always hold a special place in my heart.
I don't play the piano, and I wouldn't even attempt to learn this, but I can tell you that this magical song is my absolute go-to when I really need to find tranquility. To me, it is perfect. ❤
That was a great watch. Thank you for sharing!
This was the first proper piece I learnt in years. Looking back now, i probably learnt it too early, but it opened my love to classical piano and music in general, so overall, I love this
I really recommend the Lang Lang’s version of this piece (the one where he’s on a boat). It’s my favorite version, his dynamics are insane and the slow flexible tempo he chose is perfect.
Glad to see you reviewing this, it seems to be a shared feeling to never get enough of this piece.
Your enthusiasm is infectious. I agree, it is a gorgeous piece.
For me - the ultimate Clair de Lune was played by Khatia Buniatishvili on her Motherland album, the tempo, the clarity, the soul - eeverything about those five and a half minutes is just utter perfection.
I read your comment and then searched her name. Wow! Thank you so much for making me aware, it was sublime.
I love how every pianist playing the intro to Clair de Lune has to do the "smell your own fart" face. You know, when the fart is your own, so you just want to rate it.
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This is my absolute favorite piece! Thank you for explaining the beauty of this piece. I am still working on getting it the way I like it. This gives me inspiration to go practice piano after a long while. Thank you!
Please do more classical breakdowns!! I love seeing your perspective & techniques on tackling them!
I love Clair de Lune. It's my favorite piece
I think you should try and make videos about classical pieces more often! I would definetly watch haha, cause in that era obviously alot of stuff was different from modern, so i find it just so interesting.
There is a great quote from Plato that is particularly important for us to know and always remember: “Beauty in style, harmony, grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity.”
Man, I just love your passion
Clair de Lune is a beautiful piece not only because it is not complex and hard to play but also because it IS complex in the feelings it evokes.
I am sure that if a baby were to listen to this piece, they wouldn't understand it beyond it being a beautiful piece simply because the song brings up something that can only be felt by living life a bit.
Melody which could of course begin a beautiful discussion on how life - in its more than immense complexity - shows simplicity. How some straightforward conclusions can be drawn from the most complex events and vice-versa... But that's beyond the point.
Its a great piece.
I studied Jeux d'eau few years ago, and it's very hard. But all the complexity of the piece has an amazing musical result, because the way Ravel construct the arpeggios make the music sound a lot with water. It's an amazing piece, love Gaspard de la Nuit too.
Great video. I learned a simplified/ condensed version from another source, but your coverage of this song convinced me I need to get it in gear to learn the full version.
Clair de Lune is my all-time favorite piece. It somehow portrays my soul and gives my heart directions while also being so much more meaningful every time I listen to it. The only piece that I have listened to dozens of times but still, it has more things to say, and it still amazes me. I wish I can create something like this, something that finds a place in so many people's hearts and will be reminiscent of the delicate beauty of exquisite music.
Debussy is all about color. My introduction to Debussy as a young piano student was “Reverie” which is also an “easy” piece note-wise, but complex in getting the voicing, melody and finger sustain just right (don’t let the pedal make it mushy!). Debussy is probably my favorite composer, so thanks for doing this video.
When I first heard this piece in its entirety in a concert (because movies and tv shows always take snippets of it, but not the whole thing. I’ve “known” of it but not the full thing) in college when I was studying music (saxophone performance and music education) I was the guy trying to pretend that I wasn’t crying.
Might quite possibly be my favorite piece of all time and it’s not really even close. The emotion that this piece elicits is absolutely astounding. Every chord, every note… just beautiful.
Thank you for sharing this, makes me feel like I can maybe buy a keyboard and learn how to play it someday!
One of the most well written musical pieces ever made.
Thank you for explaining that! I've loved Clair de Lune for years. One day I'd love to tackle learning this.
The most beautiful song ever ❤
My wife’s grandfather played piano before he passed. They were all incredibly close and even played his recorded version of Claire De Lune at his funeral. They even pressed it on to vinyl for my wife. This was like 5-6 years ago…she’s yet to listen to it because it’s too difficult.
Man, your comments and review of this song is amazing, you really put a lot of passion into teaching and explaining, thank you so much, I'll surely be coming back to more of your videos in the future.
I like that you showed the original version and not some modified adaptation for sale like other RUclipsrs do.
You've also encouraged me to get back and master this piece, which I always wanted but never got past the first half.
Thanks!!
As soon as I began learning this piece, I knew I wanted to play piano for the rest of my life. It was the piece that influenced me to keep learning and playing new music every day. Now piano playing is my favorite thing ever. Thanks a lot for talking about it! It has really touched my life in a big way...
I love Clare de Lune, unfortunately i’ve mostly forgotten how to play it. You’re right, there are many nuances that is difficult to pick up on, and it’s these nuances that if played correctly, make the piece incredibly beautiful. When i listen to the recording i made, it just doesn’t compare to a pro’s sound. Like Charles said there’s another level to it, just playing the notes isn’t enough.
You should create a video about Chopin, a key figure in piano history, who greatly influenced Debussy as well.
I'd recommend featuring some of these exquisite pieces: Op. 10, No. 3 (Tristesse) - Chopin regarded it as having his finest melody. Ballade No. 1 or 4 - among his most intricate compositions, arguably some of the best for piano. Prelude in E minor delivers a a simple melody but decorated with a very clever and unique harmony. Prelude in F sharp minor. Mazurka in A minor. Prelude in B minor has a jazzy vibe with its complex melody and bouncy feel. Scherzo no 2. Nocturne in c minor. Wrong note etude. Finally, Nocturne in E-flat major stands out as Chopin's most renowned work.
Nocturne in C Sharp Minor blows my mind. Definitely my favorite piano piece.
I really like the middle section of Funeral March.
This is fantastic! Thank you.
Playing this on piano, shaping the feel of the moods in your hands of that longing, is a wonderful experience with Clair de Lune. Playing this on organ is an out of body experience especially with the right approach to this, getting that French feel with celestes and string stops opposing it with flutes. Thanks for breaking down the sections and bringing out it's "visuals" of how it's painting those moods.
As a music major that hated having to learn to play piano, I absolutely loved this piece.
I marched in Drum and Bugle Corps (Phantom Regiment) and we played a version of this that made me love it even more.
Really appreciated this break down. Well done!
Petition for Charles to take a look at casiopea
Im working on this now to perform on school! Ty for this episode, was really nice and helpfull to see how you put emotion in your playing!
I like the excitement he uses while explaining this beautiful piece
I listen to A LOT of classical, and this is still the most beautiful pieces of all time in my opinion
Yesss❤
Clair de Lune and Arabesque No. 1 are Debussy's best pieces IMO. Thanks again for getting deeper into this masterpiece, Charles.
What a JOY to watch this video... I just LOVE how you are so deeply moved by the beauty of the notes. I just bought a Yamaha DGX-670. I purchased the wooden stand that comes with it so that it stands as a one piece unit. I do not know how to play... but this piece is my GOAL piece. I suspect it will take at least 3 years of adult learning from basically the beginning to even attempt a try at it.
i Love this guys passion!
Makes the content so much more enjoyable
If you learn jeux d'eau we'd love to see a video on it
Hi Charles I HIGHLY recommend you watch and analyze platina jazz they are a band that makes jazz and big band covers of anime music and they are GREAT and I think it could be interesting for you to analyze how they changed and covered things you already listened to and to some things you haven't
In case you do decide to look into this i recommend you try listening to their galaxy express cover, their sailor moon cover and their evangelion cover for starters but all of their stuff is great
The Consouls also have some brilliant anime and vgm covers, especially the tunes they completely up-end. Their Radio #29 was so good.
You perfectly illustrated my own excitement during many of those beautiful moments in the melody
You pointed out many marvelous things I hadn't considered. Brilliant insights ! Added another dimension when I didn't know more was possible . Thanks !
When I was in college I knew a guy who was a bit of a comedian mostly, but he could silence a rowdy frat house by playing 2 pieces: Claire de lune and the 1st mvt of Moonlight sonata. They may have been the only piano he could play, but he could silence the room.
It's funny that the two most well-known piano pieces of all time are both named Moonlight
I never learned the full piece, only the first portion back when I started learning how to play the piano. Definitely gonna go back and learn the full piece, it’s beautifully awesome!
This song sparks so much emotion in me and I have no idea why. I have no real memories associated with it, but it is such a beautiful piece, it just gets me every time.
You are a gem, Charles.
As far as the twentieth century goes, impressionism was probably*the* most important movement within 'classical' music because it opened doors through which other composers and styles could step through.
I love Sibelius, Vaughan-Williams, Bartok, Rachmaninoff, Gershwin, Shostakovich, Delius and many others but Debussy definitely is way up there.
When I was a much younger man I went through several years of depression and panic attacks. I would play 'A l'apres midi d'un Faune' every night and be swept away, not to spectate on another world but to become an actual part of it.
Over a period of time it played its part in my regaining some degree of control over my overactive and overwhelmed mind.
We love Debussy.
I am an early intermediate level and have just started working on this piece for all the reason you cited. This is giving me a lot of energy and resolve!
This just popped up on my suggested videos - it was so interesting! Especially the part about emphasizing the melody with the weight of your fingers when playing those octaves. I have attempted Clair de Lune, but now I'm going to really learn it!
Ah yes. My sleeper agent activation song.
hurts me a bit that he just ignores holding the half notes written in the right hand in the two bars of the thumbnail🥲
Currently trying to play this and this video is lowkey a masterclass. You brought things to my attention I have completely overlooked! Like the weighting of the top melody instead of just hammering away the block chords. Very interesting, thank you!!
I remember your rendition of this piece uploaded in the midst of COVID lockdowns. It gave me a bit of peace despite seeing lots of sadness around.
I came here for de BUSSY
de BUSSY
I disagree. I think La Campanella by Liszt would be a great first piece to learn more nuanced techniques.
Bruh nah 💀
Clair de Lune is definitely one of the greatest pieces for piano, indeed!
That was a great video!
Your enthusiasm is contagious! Thanks!