Suite bergamasque [Woodwind Quintet]

《Suite bergamasque》 is one of Debussy's most well-known piano works. The third movement, "Clair de lune," is especially famous and is often performed as a stand-alone piece, which you have likely heard at some point. This relatively early work took about 15 years to complete. Meaning a suite in the style of Bergamo, a city in northern Italy, it adheres to the form of a Rococo dance suite. It has also been orchestrated by André Caplet and Gustave Cloez. This woodwind quintet arrangement is technically demanding and challenging.

1st movement: Prélude Moderato, F major, 4/4 time. A piece with striking beautiful harmonies. The rhythm of the melody creates a sense of dynamism throughout. The contrapuntal progression also leaves a strong impression.
2nd movement: Menuet Andantino, A minor, 3/4 time. The theme, written in the Dorian mode, a type of church mode, appears in various forms. There are many technically challenging passages.
3rd movement: Clair de lune Andante très expressif, D-flat major, 9/8 time. This piece is enveloped in stillness throughout. The elegant and broad melody in the middle section, written in the Mixolydian mode, is warmly sung by the woodwind instruments.
4th movement: Passepied Allegretto ma non troppo, F-sharp minor, 4/4 time. A dynamic piece that begins with light arpeggios and a melody. It is the final movement of the suite, but the coda ends abruptly, as if fading away. A passepied is typically in 3/4 time, but this piece is written in 4/4 time. (Yuto Yamada)