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 19 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
Poissons d'or from IMAGES	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
3. Preludes, Premiere Livre; No. 8: La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Le petit negre / The Little Negro	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Work & excerpts Preludes, Book 1 10 excerpt listings	See work details	Check individual editions	View sheet music Contents & editions
1. Danseuses de delphes / Delphic Dancers	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
10. La Cathedrale engloutie / The Sunken Cathedral	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
3. Jardins sous la pluie / Gardens in the Rain	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Hommage a Haydn / Homage to Haydn	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Preludes, Book 1 - 2. Voiles / Sails or Veils	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Preludes, Book 1 - 4. Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l'air du soir / Sounds and perfumes swirl in the evening air	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Preludes, Book 1 - 12. Minstrels	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Preludes, Book 2 - 3. La Puerta del Vino / The Wine Gate	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Preludes, Book 2 - 5. Bruyeres / Heathlands	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Preludes, Book 2 - 8. Ondine	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Preludes, Book 2 - 12. Feux d'artifice / Fireworks	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images 1 - Reflets dans l'eau / Reflections in the Water	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images 1 - Hommage a Rameau / Homage to Rameau	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images 1 - Mouvement	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Petite Suite, L65: 1. 'En bateau'	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Petite Suite, L65: 3. 'Menuet'	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, Opening Excerpt	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: Masques	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Ballet pour Enfants	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Fille Au Cheveux De Lin (Preludes, Book 1)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
pour les Tierces	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
pour les Quartes	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
pour les Sixtes	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
pour les Octaves	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
pour les Degres chromatiques	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
pour les Accords. All text is in the original French	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
8. Pour les Agrements	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
9. Pour les Notes Repetees	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
10. Pour les Sonorites Opposees	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
11. Pour les Arpeges Composes	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
12. Pour les Accords	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Deux Arabesques No.1	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
1. Le Petit Berger - The Little Shepherd (arr. Durand)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
1. Pour les Cinq Doigts	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
6. Pour les Huit Doigts	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Elegie	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Le son du cors s'afflige	See work details	Piano Organ Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: The little Shepherd	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: La fille aux cheveux de lin	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Estaampes	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Work & excerpts Images, Book 1 1 excerpt listings	See work details	Check individual editions	View sheet music Contents & editions
Work & excerpts Images, Book 2 1 excerpt listings	See work details	Check individual editions	View sheet music Contents & editions
Reflections in the Water, Hommage to Rameau, and Mouvement	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images, Volume 1	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.