Suite bergamasque (L. 75) () is a piano suite by Claude Debussy. He began composing it around 1890, at the age of 28, but significantly revised it just before its 1905 publication. The popularity of the 3rd movement, "Clair de lune", has made it one of the composer's most famous works for piano, as well as one of the most famous musical pieces of all-time. Background The composer was initially unwilling to use these relatively early piano compositions because they were not in his mature style, but in 1905 he accepted the offer of a publisher who thought they would be successful, given the fame Debussy had gained in the intervening fifteen years. While it is not known how much of the Suite was written in 1890 and how much was written in 1905, it is clear that Debussy changed the names of at least two of the pieces. "Passepied" had first been composed under the title "Pavane", while "Clair de lune" was originally entitled "Promenade sentimentale". These names come from poems by Paul Verlaine. The title of the third movement of Suite bergamasque is taken from Verlaine's poem "Clair de lune", which refers to bergamasks in the opening stanza: Structure Suite bergamasque consists of four movements: Prélude (Moderato tempo rubato, F major, ) Menuet (Andante, A minor, ) Clair de lune (Andante très expressif, D major, ) Passepied (Allegretto ma non troppo, F minor, ) Movements 1. Prélude The first piece in the suite, entitled "Prélude", is in the key of F major and marked moderato tempo rubato. Its legato phrases give it a smooth, flowing feel. 2. Menuet The second movement of Suite bergamasque is the "Menuet", in A minor. Rather than mimicking the articulations of a baroque minuet from the start, Debussy eschews the accent on the downbeat of the first measures. The light, fluttery embellishments Debussy writes throughout the movement give it the character of an arabesque. 3. Clair de lune The third movement of Suite bergamasque is "Clair de lune", in D major. It is written in meter and marked andante très expressif. Its title, which means "moonlight" in French, is taken from Verlaine's poem "Clair de lune". It is not to be confused with the two settings of the poem composed by Debussy for voice and piano accompaniment. 4. Passepied The final movement, entitled "Passepied", is in F minor, marked allegretto ma non troppo.