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 17 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
4 "Les Fees sont d'exquises danseuses" ("Fairies are exquisite dancers")	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
5 Bruyeres (Heather)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
6 General Lavine - eccentric	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
7 La terrasse des audiences du clair de lune (The Terrace of Moonlit Audiences)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
8 Ondine (Undine)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
9 Hommage a S. Pickwick Esq. P.P.M.P.C. (Homage to S. Pickwick)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
10 Canope (Canopic jar)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
11 Les tierces alternees (Alternating Thirds)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
12 Feux d'artifice (Fireworks)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: Les tierces alternes	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: Feux d'artifice	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: Canope	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: Ondine	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: Les fes sont d'exquises danseuses	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: Brouillards	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: Feuilles mortes	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: La puerta del Vino	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: BruyEres	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: La terrasse des audiences du clair de lune	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images Book I (1905)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Reflets dans l'eau / Reflections in the Water	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Hommage a Rameau / Homage to Rameau	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Mouvement / Movement	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images Book II (1907)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Cloches a travers les fuilles / Bells through the leaves	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut / And the moon descends on the ruined temple	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Poissons d'or / Goldfish	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pagodes (Pagodas), L. 100:1	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La soiree dans Grenade (The Evening in Granada), L. 100:2	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Jardins sous la pluie (Gardens in the Rain), L. 100:3	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Foreword	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images, Book 1, L.110	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Reflets dans l'eau (Reflections in the Water), L. 110:1	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Hommage a Rameau (Homage to Rameau), L. 110:2	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Mouvement (Movement), L. 110:3	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: La plus que lente	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: Berceuse hroique	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: ylgie	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: D'un cahier d'esquisses	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: Nocturne	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: Valse romantique	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: Reverie	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Introduction	See work details	Piano Cello Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Historical Background	See work details	Piano Cello Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Aesthetics and Performance Practice	See work details	Piano Cello Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
I. Prologue	See work details	Piano Cello Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Facsimiles	See work details	Piano Cello Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Sources	See work details	Piano Cello 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.