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 18 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
LENT	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Dans Le Mouvement d'une Sarabande	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Tres vite	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Suite Bergamesque-Prelude	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Suite Bergamesque-Claire De Lune	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Suite Bergamesque-Passepied	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pour Le Piano-Prelude	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pour Le Piano-Sarabande	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pour Le Piano-Toccata	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Estampes -Pagodes	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Estampes - La Soiree Dans Grenade (Evening In Granada)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Estampes - Jardins Sous La Pluie (Gardens In The Rain)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images-Reflets Dans L'eau (Reflections In The Water)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images-Movement	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
DEBUSSY - Clair de Lune	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Reflets Dans L'eau (from 'images') (C Debussy)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Danse (Tarantelle Styrienne) (C Debussy)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Hommage A Rameau (from 'images') (C Debussy)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
L'isle Joyeuse (the Happy Island) (C Debussy)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Nocturne in D Flat (C Debussy)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images, Book 2, L. 111	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Cloches a travers les feuilles (Bells through the Leaves), L. 111:1	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Poissons d'or (Goldfish), L. 111:3	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Cloches a travers les feuilles (Piano solo)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut (Piano solo)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Poissons d'or (Piano solo)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Work & excerpts Romance 3 excerpt listings	See work details	Check individual editions	View sheet music Contents & editions
Coquetterie Posthume	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Regret	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Reflections In The Water	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
And The Moon Sets Over The Temple Ruins	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Goldfish	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images No. 1: Gigues	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images No. 2: Iberia	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images No. 3: Rondes de Printemps	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Jeux	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
2. Der Tamboursg'sell	See work details	Piano Cello Flute 9 more instruments Oboe violin Bassoon Double Bass Horn Clarinet Trombone Trumpet percussion Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
6. Um Mitternacht	See work details	Piano Cello Flute 9 more instruments Oboe violin Bassoon Double Bass Horn Clarinet Trombone Trumpet percussion Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Arabesque No. 2 in G	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Jimbo's Lullaby from CHILDREN'S CORNER	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Serenade for the Doll from CHILDREN'S CORNER	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Snow is Dancing from CHILDREN'S CORNER	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Little Shepherd from CHILDREN'S CORNER	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Reflets dans l'eau from IMAGES	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Hommage a Rameau from IMAGES	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Mouvement from IMAGES	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Cloches a travers les feuilles from IMAGES	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut from IMAGES	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.