Composer
Claude Debussy
1862–1918
1,948 works in the index
- Era
- Modern
- Nationality
- France
- Born in
- Saint-Germain-en-Laye
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.
Catalogue
Works page 19 of 41
Bohemian Dance
Träumerei [Op. 9, No. 4] Additional credits Richard Strauss
Rendez-Vous Manqué Additional credits Michel Block
A Song from the East [Op. 54, No. 2] Additional credits Cyril Scott
The Vale of Dreams [Op. 5, No. 2] Additional credits Charles Tomlinson Griffes
The little shepherd Performed by Claude Debussy
Nuit d'
The Little Shepherd: No. 5 from 'Children's Corner'
Page d'Album Performed by Claude Debussy
Arabesque No. 1 in E
Nuit d'etoiles
La Cathedrale engloutie from Preludes, Book I
Des pas sur la neige from Preludes, Book I
La fille aux cheveux de lin from Preludes, Book I
Minstrels from Preludes, Book I
Bruyeres from Preludes, Book II
La Mer - I. De l'aube a midi sur La Mer Performed by Claude Debussy
La Mer - II. Jeux de Vagues Performed by Claude Debussy
La Mer - III. Dialogue du Vent et de La Mer Performed by Claude Debussy
Petite Suite - 1. En Bateau
Petite Suite - 2. Cortege
Petite Suite - 3. Menuet
Petite Suite - 4. Ballet
Suite Bergamasque - I. Prelude
Suite Bergamasque - II. Menuet
Suite Bergamasque - III. Clair de Lune
Suite Bergamasque - IV. Passapied
Suite: Pour Le Piano - I. Prelude
Suite: Pour Le Piano - II. Sarabande
Suite: Pour Le Piano - III. Toccata
Estampes - I. Pagodes
Estampes - II. La Soiree dans Grenade
Estampes - III. Jardins sous la Pluie
Piece pour Piano Performed by Claude Debussy
Images, Book I - I. Reflets dans l'Eau
Images, Book I - II. Hommage a Rameau
Images, Book I - III. Mouvement
Children's Corner - I. Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum
Children's Corner - II. Jimbo's Lullaby
Children's Corner - III. Serenade of the Doll
Children's Corner - IV. The Snow is Dancing
Children's Corner - V. The Little Shepherd
Children's Corner - VI. Golliwog's Cakewalk
Images, Book II - I. Cloches a Travers les Feuilles
Images, Book II - II. Et La Lune Descend sur le Temple qui Fut
Images, Book II - III. Poissons d'Or
Soir d'été sur la Terrasse Additional credits Joaquín Turina
Sonatine Additional credits Maurice Ravel
Dates, era and nationality from Wikidata, matched on name and verified against any dates already held here. The biography above is our own. Portrait: Adam Cuerden, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.