I think, that if I touched the earth, It would crumble; It is so sad and beautiful, So tremulously like a dream. —from “Clown In The Moon“

K. Partridge: Movement Director
Luscinda L. Dickey: Dancer
Carrie Leigh Dickey: Costume and Hair, Cinematographer and Video Editor

The Inspiration:

“Votre âme est un paysage chosi.”
Your soul is a chosen landscape.
On which masques et Bergamasques cast enchantment as they go…
They roam. Bewitching. Charming.
“Charmant.”
…Playing the lute, and dancing, and almost
Sad beneath their whimsical, fanciful, fantastic
“déguisements fantasques.”

“Tout en chantant sur le mode mineur
L’amour…” of love.
All-conquering love; life so kind. Victorious and opportune.
They do not seem to believe their happiness
“Et leur chanson se mêle au clair de lune.”

Light of the moon—calm, sad, beautiful—
Which sets the birds rêver in the trees.
And the plumes of the fountains weep,

Sob,

D’extase—in rapture—

Ecstasy.

Among the marble sculptures.

“Les grands jets d’eau sveltes parmi les marbres.”

Me, I wandered alone, walking my wound.
“Promenant me plaie.”
Through willow grove; the length of the pound
Where the vague mist conjured some vast
“Fantôme laiteux se désespérant”

With the voice crying…

As they called to each other, beating their wings
Through the willow grove where alone I wandered
Walking my wound; and the thick shroud
Of shadows came to drown…

Clair de lune—calm, triste, and beautiful.
Masques et Bergamasques cast enchantment…
As they go.
Quasi Tristes…
Un paysage choisi…

Your Soul.

— Two Fragmented Poems by Paul Verlaine

The Music: 

Claude Debussy’s “Clair de lune” from Suite bergamasque; transposed for celesta.