Composer

Claude Debussy

French classical composer (1862–1918)

1862–1918

1,660 works and musical collections

Born: 1862
Died: 1918
Birthplace: Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Place of death: 16th arrondissement of Paris
Citizenship / historical state: France
Period (estimated from birth year): Modern

Biography

Debussy changed what the piano could sound like, and his music is notated with unusual precision about pedal, dynamics and voicing because those things are the substance rather than the decoration.

Clair de lune is the most-bought piano piece in this catalogue and one of the most misjudged: it is not difficult to read and it is very difficult to play well, because it depends entirely on control of quiet dynamics and pedal. The Children's Corner suite and the two books of Arabesques are the realistic starting points. The Préludes and Images are advanced.

Editions matter here for an unusual reason: his pedal markings and enharmonic spellings are deliberate and older "improved" editions altered both. Buy an edition that follows the original text, and treat any collection that regularises his notation as a warning sign.

Life and musical career

Occupations: composer; pianist; music critic
Education: Conservatoire de Paris
Teachers: Antoine-François Marmontel; Albert Lavignac
Recorded memberships: Royal Swedish Academy of Music
Instruments played: piano
Genres: opera; classical music; impressionist music
Movements: impressionism in music; Symbolism
Selected notable works: Pelléas et Mélisande; Préludes; Children's Corner; La Damoiselle élue; Suite bergamasque; Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune; Petite Suite; Deux arabesques; String Quartet; La mer; Images; PrincessesJeux de princess
Awards: Knight of the Legion of Honour; Prix de Rome
Birth name: Claude Achille Debussy
Languages used: French
VIAF ID: 6219636
ISNI: 0000000121190614
GND ID: 118524186
Library of Congress ID: n79132137
MusicBrainz ID: be50643c-0377-4968-b48c-47e06b2e2a3b

Recorded in Wikidata. Affiliations may refer to earlier stages of the composer's career.

In this catalogue

Common listed instruments: Piano, Voice, Clarinet, Flute, Harp
Genres represented: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Children, Christmas
Source entries with composition dates: 118

These details describe the indexed sheet music, including arrangements.

Catalogue

Sheet music catalogue page 1 of 35

Instruments describe listed editions, including arrangements. Composition dates and keys appear where recorded; collection pages show their individual contents.

Works and musical collections with sheet music details
Title	Work details	Listed instruments	Sheet music
Pour le piano, L. 95: I. Prélude. À Mademoiselle M.W. de Romilly. Assez animé et très rythmé - Tempo di cadenza - Tempo I	Year composed 1909-10	Piano Cello violin 1 more instruments Orchestra Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Fêtes galantes (Premier recueil), L. 80, CD 86 : III. Clair de lune, mélodie pour voix et piano "Votre âme est un paysage choisi"	See work details	Piano Harp Organ 12 more instruments Guitar harpsichord Cello Flute Oboe violin Voice Bassoon bass Vocal Orchestra Horn Jazz · Rock · New Age · Classical · Pop · Religious	View sheet music Work & edition details
Préludes, Livre I, L. 117: VIII. La fille aux cheveux de lin. Très calme et doucement expressif	See work details	Piano Harp Organ 11 more instruments harpsichord Cello Flute Oboe violin Bassoon Orchestra Double Bass Horn Clarinet Sax Jazz · Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images pour orchestre, L 122: IIc. Ibéria - Le matin d'un jour de fête	Year composed 1901-05	Piano strings Triangle 5 more instruments Timpani Snare Drum Cymbals Celesta Xylophone Rock · Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Work & excerpts Suite bergamasque, L. 75, CD 82a, pour piano 4 excerpt listings	Catalogue / opus L 75	Check individual editions	View sheet music Contents & editions
Children's Corner, L. 113: V. The Little Shepherd	Year composed 1906-1908	Piano Harp harpsichord 9 more instruments Flute Oboe Bassoon Horn Clarinet Recorder percussion Saxophone Accordion Classical · Pop · Children · Christmas	View sheet music Work & edition details
Rêverie, L. 68, CD 76, pour piano	Year composed 1890	Piano Jazz · Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Les angélus	Year composed 1892 (February)	Piano Organ Voice 1 more instruments Low Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Children's Corner, L. 113: II. Jimbo's Lullaby	Year composed 1906-1908	Piano Harp harpsichord 8 more instruments Flute Oboe Bassoon Horn Clarinet Recorder percussion Saxophone Classical · Children	View sheet music Work & edition details
Préludes, Livre I, L. 117: X. La cathédrale engloutie. Profondément calme	Year composed 1909-10	Piano Organ harpsichord Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Deux Arabesques, L. 66, CD 74, pour piano : No. 1 en mi majeur, Andantino con moto	See work details	Piano Organ Flute Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
En Bateau	Year composed 1886-89	Piano Harp Organ 5 more instruments Flute violin Clarinet Timpani percussion Classical · Pop	View sheet music Work & edition details
Estampes, L. 100: III. Jardins sous la pluie. Net et vif	See work details	Piano harpsichord Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Estampes, L. 100: II. La Soirée dans Grenade. Mouvement de Habanera	See work details	Piano harpsichord Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Préludes, Livre I, L. 117: VI. Des pas sur la neige. Triste et lent	Year composed 1909-10	Piano harpsichord Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Deux Arabesques, L. 66, CD 74, pour piano : No. 2 en sol majeur, Allegretto scherzando	See work details	Piano Organ Cello 3 more instruments Flute violin Viola Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum (Piano solo)	See work details	Piano Harp Guitar 8 more instruments harpsichord Flute Oboe Bassoon Horn Clarinet percussion Accordion Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Le petit Nègre, L. 114	Year composed 1909	Piano Horn Clarinet 3 more instruments Trombone Tuba Saxophone Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Children's Corner, L. 113: III. Serenade for the Doll	See work details	Piano Harp harpsichord 7 more instruments Flute Oboe Bassoon Horn Clarinet Recorder percussion Classical · Children	View sheet music Work & edition details
Estampes, L. 100: I. Pagodes. Modérément animé	See work details	Piano harpsichord Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Children's Corner, L. 113: IV. The Snow is Dancing	See work details	Piano Harp harpsichord 6 more instruments Flute Oboe Bassoon Horn Clarinet percussion Classical · Children	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pour le piano, L. 95: II. Sarabande. À Madame E. Rouart (née Y. Lerolle). Avec une élégance grave et lente	Year composed 1894-1901	Piano Harp harpsichord 4 more instruments Flute Oboe bass Tenor Saxophone Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Ballade (slave), L. 70, CD 78, pour piano	Year composed 1910	Piano Flute Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Préludes, Livre I, L. 117: XII. Minstrels. Modéré	See work details	Piano harpsichord Double Bass Blues · Jazz · Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Valse romantique, L. 71, CD 79, pour piano	Year composed 1890	Piano Harp Flute Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Berceuse héroïque pour piano, L. 132	Year composed 1914 (November)	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images, Livre 1, L. 110: No. 3. Mouvement	Year composed 1901-05	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Préludes, Livre II, L. 123: III. La puerta del Vino. Mouvement de Habanera	See work details	Piano Guitar Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Le Martyre de Saint-Sébastien, L. 124	Year composed 1910	Piano strings Orchestra 7 more instruments Trombone Timpani Tuba Tamtam Cymbals Drum Celesta Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pour le piano, L. 95: III. Toccata. À N.G. Coronio. Vif	See work details	Piano harpsichord Oboe Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Beau soir, L. 6, CD 84, mélodie pour voix et piano "Lorsque au soleil couchant les rivières sont roses"	Year composed 1880 ca., rev.1890-91	Piano Cello violin 7 more instruments Voice Choir Clarinet Euphonium Saxophone Low Voice Tenor Saxophone Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Cortege	Year composed 1886-89	Piano Harp Organ 3 more instruments violin Timpani percussion Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
L'isle joyeuse, L. 106	Year composed 1903	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Préludes, Livre I, L. 117: I. Danseuses de Delphes. Lent et grave	Year composed 1909-10	Piano harpsichord Double Bass Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images, Livre 1, L. 110: No. 1. Reflets dans l'eau	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Préludes, Livre II, L. 123: IV. «Les fées sont d'exquises danseuses». Rapide et léger	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Préludes, Livre I, L. 117: V. Les collines d'Anacapri. Très modéré	See work details	Piano harpsichord Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Préludes, Livre II, L. 123: VIII. Ondine. Scherzando	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Les Baisers d’amour, L. 48, CD 23, mélodie pour voix et piano "Non, les baisers d’amour"	Year composed 1885	Piano Voice Low Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Danse	Year composed 1890	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Golliwogg's Cake Walk	See work details	Piano violin Horn 2 more instruments Trombone Tuba Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Work & excerpts Golliwogg's Cakewalk 21 excerpt listings	See work details	Check individual editions	View sheet music Contents & editions
Préludes, Livre I, L. 117: III. Le Vent dans la plaine. Animé	See work details	Piano harpsichord Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Préludes, Livre II, L. 123: XI. Les tierces alternées. Modérément animé	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Préludes, Livre II, L. 123: X. Canope. Très calme et doucement triste	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Préludes, Livre II, L. 123: II. Feuilles mortes. Lent et mélancolique	Year composed 1912-13	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Golliwogg's Cake-walk from CHILDREN'S CORNER	See work details	Piano Flute Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Préludes, Livre I, L. 117: IV. «Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l'air du soir». Modéré	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details

Biographical record: Wikidata, matched on name and checked against dates held in the catalogue. The period label is an estimate from birth year. The biography above is our own. Authority record: VIAF 6219636. Portrait: Adam Cuerden, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.