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 11 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
East Tennessee Blues	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Water Is Wide	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Cumberland Trail	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Wake Up Susan	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Collin's Quest	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
This Train	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Billy In The Low Ground	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Celtic Twilight	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Plectrum Etude	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Dreaming	See work details	Harmonica	View sheet music Work & edition details
Triomphe de Bacchus	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
1. Duo a la Fontaine (Act II, sc. 1)	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
De gr	See work details	Piano Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Yver, vous niestes quiun villain - e-Moll/E minor	See work details	Choir Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Assez Animé et Très Rythmé	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Montagnarde Additional credits Jean-Joseph Mouret	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Andantino	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Premiere Rhapsody	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Sonata No. 2 for Flute, Viola and Harp - Flute	See work details	Harp Flute Viola Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Petite Pièce - Clarinet - Clarinet in B-flat	See work details	Piano Clarinet Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 1: La flûte de Pan	See work details	Piano Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 7: Ce qu'a vu le vent. d'Ouest	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Sonata No. 2 for Flute, Viola and Harp - Set of Parts	See work details	Harp Flute Viola Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Golliwogg's Cakewalk - French Horn	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Little Negro - Score	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Golliwog's Cake-Walk from Children's Corner - B-flat Trumpet 2	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Little Negro - Electric Bass	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Ballet from Petite Suite - Trombone 1	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pour la danseuse aux crotales - Flute	See work details	Piano Flute Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Golliwog's Cakewalk - French Horn in F	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Sonata No. 2 for Flute, Viola and Harp - Harp	See work details	Harp Flute Viola Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Petite Pièce - Piano - Piano	See work details	Piano Clarinet Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Violin Sonata No. 3, Movement 1 - Piano Score	See work details	Piano violin Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Cinq Poèmes de Baudelaire	See work details	Piano Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Petite Pièce - Set of Parts	See work details	Piano Clarinet Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Golliwogg's Cakewalk - Tuba 2	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Golliwogg's Cakewalk - Trombone	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Golliwog's Cake-Walk from Children's Corner - Horn in E-flat 1	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
String Quartet No. 1 2nd movement - Guitar	See work details	See edition details Jazz · Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Ballet from Petite Suite - B-flat Trumpet 3	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Sonata d minor - Cello	See work details	Piano Cello Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Children's Corner - Piano	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pour un tombeau sans nom - Score	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pour remercier la pluie au matin - Score	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pour un tombeay sans nom - Score	See work details	Piano Flute Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Danse Bohemienne - Piano	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 2: Cortège	See work details	Orchestra Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 1: De rêve: La nuit a des douceurs de femme	See work details	Piano Voice 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.