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
- 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
- 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 10 of 35
Instruments describe listed editions, including arrangements. Composition dates and keys appear where recorded; collection pages show their individual contents.
| Title | Work details | Listed instruments | Sheet music |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khamma |
| See edition details | View sheet music |
| Pièce pour le Vêtement du blessé |
|
| View sheet music |
| Le roi Lear |
|
| View sheet music |
| Triolet à Philis |
|
| View sheet music |
| 17. Green (Aquarelles) | See work details |
4 more instruments
| View sheet music |
| Trois Melodies | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| 33. La flute de Pan | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Le Petit Berger | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| 2. Fetes | See work details |
2 more instruments
| View sheet music |
| Aimous-nous et dormons | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Rondel: Pour ce que Plaisance | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Eventail | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Close Every Door | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Come Fly With Me | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| BOOK ONE | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| BOOK TWO | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Polka in Ab Major |
|
| View sheet music |
| Performance Instructions | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Sources Consulted in the Preparation of this Edition | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Debussy: PiEce pour piano [Page d'album] | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Translations of Performance Instructions | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| La Mer | See work details |
11 more instruments
| View sheet music |
| Symphony No. 6 in A Minor |
|
9 more instruments
| View sheet music |
| Symphony No. 7 in E Minor |
|
9 more instruments
| View sheet music |
| Lieder | See work details |
9 more instruments
| View sheet music |
| 1. Revelge | See work details |
9 more instruments
| View sheet music |
| In a Boat | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Debussy: Symphony b minor | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Doctor Gradus Ad Parnasum | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Passpied | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Album Leaf | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Au Clair De La Lune | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| La passion | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Le bon pasteur | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Paysage Sentimental [Text by Paul Bourget] | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Voici que le printemps [Text by Paul Bourget] | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Quartet In G Minor, Op.10 |
|
| View sheet music |
| Deuxieme Ariette Oubliee | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| 3. Dialogue du Vent et de la Mer | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Fanfare pour preceder "La Peri" | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Recuerdo De Escorial | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| When Johnny Comes Home | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| You and Me | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| The Lily Of The Valley | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Ding Dong Merrily On High | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| The Burning Of The Piper's Hut | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Welcome, Welcome Ev'ry Guest | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Blues For Eric | See work details |
| View sheet music |
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.