“Claire de Lune”

Claire de Lune 2.

If you ever have a stressful day, this tune is a wonderful tonic…

This is a lovely arrangement of Claude Debussy’s hauntingly beautiful “Claire de Lune” performed on a 10-string guitar – I heard a version of this on the “Falling Skies” episode titled “Young Bloods”. I don’t know if this is the one that was used in the show***, but it’s close enough.

I have only ever heard this done as a piano solo or in a symphonic setting, so this was quite a treat:
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That is Vincent Macaluso playing “Clair De Lune” in the early 1970’s with an Oribe Brazilian and redwood 10-string, built especially for him (the tuning was: 7th. = D, 8th. = B, 9th. = G, 10th= F#; and no, I haven’t the first clue….).  He transcribed Debussy’s arrangement so that it could be played on the 10-string guitar.  Sadly, Mr. Macaluso  passed away in May of 2012.

The album “Ten-String Spectacular” is available in CD and MP3 formats; this version of “Claire de Lune” is also available as a stand-alone MP3 selection.

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***According to someone in the “Comments” section at the YouTube video, the version heard on “Falling Skies” is not Mr. Macaluso’s rendition; rather, it appears to be from a recording made by Angel Romero in 1987.  There is not a YouTube video of his version, but it is available as an MP3 stand-alone through Amazon.

Interestingly enough, when Mr. Macaluso was in his late teens, he studied guitar under the tutelage of Mr. Romero’s father, Celedonio Romero.  Small world, huh?
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About Teresa in Fort Worth, TX

A short, fat, over-the-hill, happily-married mother of 4 daughters. I know just enough to get myself in trouble....
This entry was posted in Broadway/TV/Film, Classical, Just Because, Music and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

3 Responses to “Claire de Lune”

  1. ALEX F says:

    I’ve been meaning to write here since I first saw the Falling Skies episode & came across your post while looking for the guitar version; subsequently I’ve enjoyed reading your blog.

    The full album is:
    Angel Romero – A Touch of Class: Popular Classics Transcribed For Guitar
    https://www.amazon.com/Touch-Class-Popular-Classics-Transcribed/dp/B000003CU1/
    Single mp3 download @Internet Archive
    [audio src="https://archive.org/download/DebussyClairDeLunea.Romero/09Debussy_ClairDeLuneL32.mp3" /]

    An alternative guitar version performed by James Edwards, visualised:

    Also Vivaldi, Angel Romero – Lute Concerto in D, RV 93
    https://archive.org/download/VivaldiLuteConcertoInDRv93a.Romero

    Liked by 1 person

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