Looking for music similar to Clair de Lune?

Question

I've recently fallen in love with classical music, especially Debussy's Clair de Lune. Can anyone recommend something similar? Thank you so much!

Answer 1

To find music similar to Debussy's Clair de Lune, your best bet is to stick with Debussy and then branch out. He has a wealth of emotive piano music such as Deux arabesque, Rêverie, Reflets dans l'eau.
If you have just found you love with this piano piece, I would suggest moving to his piano/vocal music. My personal suggestions would be Beau soir, La mort des amants.
From there I would also recommend his Cello Sonata, Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune and La Mer.

Let me recommend some of my personal favorite songs that I think fit in the "Clair de Lune" category.
Barber's "Adagio for Strings"
Barber's "Sure on this shining night"
Chopin's 2nd piano Concerto
Rachmaninoff's "Vocalise"
Williams' arrangement of Greensleeves
Elgar's Serenade in E minor from Op. 20 (Movement II)

That should get you started and best of luck on your classical adventure!!

Answer 2

You don't say whether you've fallen in love with listening. or playing as well.

Both are highly acceptable of course. But if playing skill is not an issue, then you may want to listen to more Debussy piano music -- the Preludes books 1 and 2, Images, books 1 and 2, and so much more, but that's a good start

Ravel, a contemporary of his, also wrote terrific piano music --
Gaspard de la Nuit, Jeaux d'eau (one of the great "water" pieces).

Getting away from the French, how about Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" -- which was my first introduction to classical music.

And of course, if you are into moonlight (that's what Claire de Lun means, after all) how about Beethoven's' Moonlight Sonata?

Answer 3

Debussy's work, mentioned above, fits more or less into what is known as impressionist music.

Here are some compositions that are also thought to be impressionist, or close to it:
Debussy: Suite Bergamaque, La Mer, Children's Corner.
Ravel: Dauphins et Chloe, Pavanne for a Dead Princess,La Valse.
Karol Szymanowski: any of the violin music.
Charles Griffes: The White Peacock
Paul Dukas: The Sorcerers Apprentice
Vaughn Williams Fantasy on a theme of Thomas Tallis.

The last one, Fantasy on a Theme of Thomas Tallis, will have you weeping like a child.

Answer 4

Another very cool piece for piano by Debussy is Reverie. An interesting note about this fantastic piece is that Debussy actually wanted to disown it as he regarded it as an immature piece he wrote while a student.

Answer 5

Just keep going with the Debussy. I love it all, too.

Also, check out Eric Satie and Maurice Ravel (especially Jeux d'eau!!!)

Answer 6

Meg: "Similar" is really not a very precise term for catagorizing music. I am presuming that you want something that is easy to listen to. There are many to recommend. I would suggest "Liebestraum" No.3 by Liszt. "Traumerei" by Schumann. "Nocturne in C Minor", or "Polonaise in A-Flat Major (Heroic)" by Chopin. "Waltz in A-Flat Major" by Brahms. These are all beautiful pieces, and I think you will like them. Enjoy.

Answer 7

Check out Debussy's "Le Mar" and Rachmaninoff's "Prelude in C# Minor".

Answer 8

'Similar' is a very general term to use. Whenever I hear a piece of music I like I automatically go to other pieces by the same composer - and then to other composers of the same nationality and then to other composers of the same period. You may find other things along the way that are similar or not and - who knows?- you may like all of them.

Answer 9

"Fifth Nocturne" by Leybach. I studied this many years ago........and it is soothing, like Clair de Lune. Do you play? I hope you can find the sheet music.

Answer 10

Try any piece from Ravel or Satie... the pieces which you like are in the French Impressionism time & those composers whom i have mentioned have similar pieces there.