Clair de lune' takes its title from an atmospheric poem by the French poet Paul Verlaine which depicts the soul as somewhere full of music 'in a minor key' where birds are inspired to sing by the 'sad and beautiful' light of the moon. The slow tempo, and the always- harmonically unfinished phrases in the piece create a sense of ambiguity and suspense. It almost seems to annoy the listener as it lacks a sense of completion, but this feeling evokes curiosity and thought at the same time, making the piece reflective.
Answers & Comments
Clair de lune' takes its title from an atmospheric poem by the French poet Paul Verlaine which depicts the soul as somewhere full of music 'in a minor key' where birds are inspired to sing by the 'sad and beautiful' light of the moon. The slow tempo, and the always- harmonically unfinished phrases in the piece create a sense of ambiguity and suspense. It almost seems to annoy the listener as it lacks a sense of completion, but this feeling evokes curiosity and thought at the same time, making the piece reflective.
Answer:
quiet, contemplative, and slightly melancholy, evoking the feeling of a solitary walk through a moonlit garden