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 15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danse Sacree | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Danse Profane | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| 1. Nuages | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| 3. Sirenes | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| The Girl With The Flaxen Hair | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Fete galante | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| La grotte | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Ballade de Villon a s'amye | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Ballade que Villon feit a la requeste de sa mere | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Ballade des femmes de Paris | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Do-Re-Mi | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Prelude | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Menuet | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Passepied | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Sarabande | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Toccata | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Pagodes | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Jardins Sous La Pluie | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Reflets Dans L'eau | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Hommage A Rameau | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Mouvement | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Danseuses de Delphes |
| See edition details | View sheet music |
| Voiles | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Le Vent dans la plaine |
| See edition details | View sheet music |
| Les Sons Et Les Parfums Tournent Dans L'Air Du Soir |
| See edition details | View sheet music |
| Les collines d'Anacapri |
| See edition details | View sheet music |
| Des pas sur la neige |
| See edition details | View sheet music |
| Ce qu'a vu le vent d'Ouest |
| See edition details | View sheet music |
| La Serenade Interrompue | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| La Cathedrale Engloutie | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| La Danse de Puck |
| See edition details | View sheet music |
| Work & excerpts Minstrels | See work details | Check individual editions | View sheet music |
| Brouillards |
| See edition details | View sheet music |
| Feuilles Mortes |
| See edition details | View sheet music |
| La Puerta Del Vino | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Les Fees Sont D'Exquises Danseuses | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Bruyeres |
| See edition details | View sheet music |
| La Terrasse Des Audiences Du Clair De Lune | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Ondine | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Canope | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Les Tierces Alternees | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Feux D'Artifice | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Jimbo's Lullaby (Piano solo) | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Serenade for the doll (Piano solo) | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| The Snow is dancing (Piano solo) | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| The little Shepherd (Piano solo) | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Golliwogg's Calkewalk (Piano solo) | 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.