Suite bergamasque movement of "Suite bergamasque" is Clair de lune, in D major. Its name comes from Verlaine's poem "Clair de lune", which means "moonlight" in French. It is written in meter, marked "andante très expressif", and to be played mostly "pianissimo". It is not to be confused with the two settings of the poem made by Debussy for voice and piano accompaniment. The final movement is Passepied in F minor, "allegretto ma non troppo". A passepied is a type of dance which originated in Brittany. Debussy's "Passepied" is a happy, strangely medieval piece, which is surprisingly faster than its Baroque counterparts.
Clair de Lune (poem) opportune Ils n'ont pas l'air de croire à leur bonheur Et leur chanson se mêle au clair de lune, Au calme clair de lune triste et beau, Qui fait rêver les oiseaux dans les arbres Et sangloter d'extase les jets d'eau, Les grands jets d'eau sveltes parmi les marbres. Your soul is a well-chosen landscape Where roam charming masks and bergamasques Playing the lute and dancing and seeming almost Sad under their whimsical disguises. While singing in a minor key Of victorious love and good life They don't seem to believe in their own happiness And their song mingles with