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 16 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
Danseuses de Delphes (Dancers of Delphi): Lent et grave	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Voiles (Veils or sails): Modere	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Le vent dans la plaine (The Wind on the Plain): Anime	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
"Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l'air du soir" (The sounds and fragrances swirl through the evening air): Modere	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Les collines d'Anacapri (The Hills of Anacapri): Tres modere	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Des pas sur la neige (Footsteps in the Snow): Triste et lent	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Ce qu'a vu le vent d'ouest (What the West Wind has seen): Anime et tumultueux	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La fille aux cheveux de lin (The Girl with the Flaxen Hair): Tres calme et doucement expressif	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La serenade interrompue (Interrupted Serenade): Moderement anime	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La cathedrale engloutie (The Submerged Cathedral): Profondement calme	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La danse de Puck (Puck's Dance): Capricieux et leger	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Brouillards (Mists): Modere	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Feuilles mortes (Dead Leaves): Lent et melancolique	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Puerta del Vino (The Wine Gate): Mouvement de Habanera	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
"Les Fees sont d'exquises danseuses" ("Fairies are exquisite dancers"): Rapide et leger	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Bruyeres (Heather): Calme	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La terrasse des audiences du clair de lune (The Terrace of Moonlit Audiences): Lent	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Ondine (Undine): Scherzando	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Hommage a S. Pickwick Esq. P.P.M.P.C. (Homage to S. Pickwick): Grave	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Canope (Canopic jar): Tres calme et doucement triste	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Les tierces alternees (Alternating Thirds): Moderement anime	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Feux d'artifice (Fireworks): Moderement anime	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l'air ddu soir	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Sonate Au Clair De Lune (Moonlight Sonata)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: Reflets dans l'eau	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: Mouvement	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: L'Isle joyeuse	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: 'En bateau'	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: 'Menuet'	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Claire de lune	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Sarabande(Suite-Pno.) Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Soiree Dans Grenade	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
1 Danseuses de Delphes (Dancers of Delphi)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
2 Voiles (Veils or sails)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
3 Le vent dans la plaine (The Wind on the Plain)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
4 "Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l'air du soir" (The sounds and fragrances swirl through the evening air)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
5 Les collines d'Anacapri (The Hills of Anacapri)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
6 Des pas sur la neige (Footsteps in the Snow)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
7 Ce qu'a vu le vent d'ouest (What the West Wind has seen)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
8 La fille aux cheveux de lin (The Girl with the Flaxen Hair)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
9 La serenade interrompue (Interrupted Serenade)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
10 La cathedrale engloutie (The Submerged Cathedral)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
11 La danse de Puck (Puck's Dance)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
12 Minstrels	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Deuxieme Livre	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
1 Brouillards (Mists)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
2 Feuilles mortes (Dead Leaves)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
3 La Puerta del Vino (The Wine Gate)	See work details	See edition details	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.