Clair de Lune

Description

Music by Claude Debussy
Transcription for vibraphone by Pasquale Bardaro

In 2021 the vibraphone turned 100 years old. Over the course of this century, various pieces have been composed expressly for this instrument, both in teaching and in concerts. The vibraphone sees its origins and its subsequent brilliant fame especially in jazz music as well as in movies soundtracks and contemporary cultured music. Deepening the study, I felt the need to recover pieces from the repertoire of other instruments and other musical eras to improve the language and increase the expressiveness of this instrument.

While playing on the Clair de lune vibraphone (originally composed for piano), I had the sensation that Debussy’s typically evocative colors and atmospheres came to life in a natural and spontaneous way as if the piece had been composed for this instrument.

Since the entire range of the piano cannot be covered on the vibraphone, just as one does not have low and deep strings, for me it was particularly stimulating and creative to make this transcription.

The title Clair de Lune, third movement of the Suite bergamasque (1890, published in 1905), certainly refers to the homonymous poem by Verlaine, the lines of which inspired Debussy to give the title of the entire composition (“Votre âme est un paysage choisi / Que vont charmant masques et bergamasques”). Give space to your imagination and you will discover the power of this musical instrument!