About this song
This gentle French bar-song about borrowing a pen by moonlight is historically momentous: a 17-second 1860 recording of it is the earliest recognizably sung melody captured by machine.
Play it in MIDI Room
This is a simplified single-line arrangement so you can hear the melody instantly. To play the full piece with a piano roll, multi-track view, tempo control and A/B practice looping, use the main MIDI Player Online tool with your own MIDI file.
Frequently asked questions
Can I play Au Clair de la Lune online in my browser?
Yes. Use the demo player above to hear this public-domain Traditional folk melody instantly, or drop your own MIDI file into the MIDI Player Online tool for full piano-roll playback, tempo control and A/B practice looping. Everything runs locally in your browser — no upload, account or install.
Who composed Au Clair de la Lune?
Au Clair de la Lune is Traditional French melody (1761) (Traditional folk). It is in the public domain, so it can be freely arranged, performed and used.
What key is Au Clair de la Lune usually played in?
This arrangement is written in C major. The demo above uses that key so you can hear the melody as traditionally performed.
Is a MIDI file version of Au Clair de la Lune available?
Instead of downloading a file, you can hear the melody right here with the built-in player. To practice it, set a slow tempo and use the A/B loop to repeat a section. You can also export or record any MIDI you play from the main MIDI Room player.