Debussy: Suite Bergamasque Mvt.3 Clair de Lune - wind dectet (& bass)

The Suite Bergamasque is a piano suite composed by Claude Debussy. It was first composed around 1890, at the age of 28, but was significantly revised just before its publication in 1905.

This is an arrangement for wind dectet of the third and most famous movement called "Clair de lune" in Db major.

Its name comes from Verlaine's poem Clair de lune, "moonlight" in French. It is written in 9/8 compound time, marked andante très expressif, and both the piano and orchestral scores are marked mostly pianissimo. Musically, Debussy's "Clair de lune" belongs to French Impressionism.

It is arranged for a double wind quintet of 2 fl, 2 ob, 2 cl (in A) 2 hn & 2 bsn.

I have included an optional bass line for either double bass, contra bassoon or tuba.

Other movements are available, for both dectet, and other instrumental groups.

It is based on the "A Caplet" orchestration, so I have retained as far as possible the solo instrumentation.

The tricky arpeggios are carried by the clarinets and bassoons