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 2 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
Préludes, Livre I, L. 117: XI. La danse de Puck. Capricieux et léger	See work details	Piano harpsichord Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
D'un cahier d'esquisses, L. 99	Year composed 1904 (January)	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Work & excerpts Pour le Piano 6 excerpt listings	See work details	Check individual editions	View sheet music Contents & editions
Golliwog's Cakewalk	See work details	Piano Guitar violin Blues · Jazz · Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Préludes, Livre I, L. 117: II. Voiles. Modéré	See work details	Piano harpsichord Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Nocturne, L. 82, CD 89, pour piano	Year composed 1892	Piano Flute Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Masques, L. 105	Year composed 1903-04	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Work & excerpts Nocturnes, L 91 3 excerpt listings	See work details	Check individual editions	View sheet music Contents & editions
Work & excerpts Petite Suite 6 excerpt listings	See work details	Check individual editions	View sheet music Contents & editions
Debussy: Douze Etudes	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Little Negro (Piano solo)	See work details	Piano Cello Saxophone Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Children's Corner	Year composed 1906-1908	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Paysage sentimental	Year composed 1883	Piano Organ Voice 1 more instruments Low Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
6. Golliwog's Cake-Walk	See work details	Piano Cello Flute 2 more instruments violin Viola Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
La plus que lente, L. 121	Year composed 1910	Piano Flute Clarinet 2 more instruments Saxophone Viola Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Syrinx, L. 129, CD 137	Year composed 1913	Piano Guitar Flute 5 more instruments Clarinet Alto Piccolo Saxophone Accordion Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Préludes, Livre II, L. 123: V. Bruyères. Calme	See work details	Piano Flute Saxophone Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Préludes, Livre II, L. 123: I. Brouillards. Modéré	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Danse bohémienne	Year composed 1880	Piano Clarinet Saxophone Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Six épigraphes antiques	Year composed 1914-15	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
	Year composed 1912-13	Piano Flute Oboe 9 more instruments strings Bassoon Horn Clarinet Tambourine Triangle English Horn Cymbals Xylophone Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
General Lavine - Excentric	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images, Livre 2, L. 111: No. 3. Poissons d'or	Year composed 1907	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Préludes, Livre II, L. 123: XII. Feux d'artifice. Modérément animé	See work details	Piano harpsichord Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Jeux, L. 126	See work details	Piano Harp Organ 11 more instruments Cello Flute Oboe violin Bassoon Double Bass Horn Clarinet Trombone Timpani Trumpet Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Les Cloches, L. 79, CD 66, mélodie pour voix et piano "Les feuilles s’ouvraient sur le bord des branches"	See work details	Piano Organ Cello 2 more instruments Voice Low Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Fleur des blés	Year composed 1881	Piano Organ Voice 1 more instruments Low Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
First Arabesque	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: Deux Arabesques	See work details	Piano Flute Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, L. 86, CD 87	Year composed 1891-94	Piano strings Piccolo Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images, Livre 1, L. 110: No. 2. Hommage à Rameau	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Ariettes oubliées, L. 60, CD 63a : IV. Paysages belges. Chevaux de bois, mélodie pour voix et piano "Tournez, tournez, bons chevaux de bois"	Year composed 1885-87, rev.1903	Piano Voice Low Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Mazurka	Year composed 1890	Piano Flute Oboe Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
D'un Cahier De Esquisses (From A Sketchbook)	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Will The Circle Be Unbroken?	See work details	Guitar Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Préludes, Livre I, L. 117: IX. La sérénade interrompue. Modérément animé	See work details	Piano Harp harpsichord 1 more instruments Flute Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images pour orchestre, L 122: III. Rondes de printemps	See work details	Piano Harp Organ 11 more instruments Cello Flute Oboe violin Bassoon Orchestra Double Bass Horn Clarinet Trombone Timpan Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Études, L. 136: XII. Pour les accords	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Girl With Flaxen Hair	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pour la danseuse aux crotales from Six Epigraphes antiques (Piano solo)	See work details	Piano Flute Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
II. Cortege	Year composed 1886-89	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Préludes, Livre II, L. 123: IX. Hommage à S. Pickwick Esq. P.P.M.P.C.. Grave	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Mandoline, L. 29, CD 43, mélodie pour voix et piano "Les donneurs de sérénades"	Year composed 1882 (November 15, Vienna)	Piano Harp Organ 6 more instruments Voice Clarinet Timpani Piccolo percussion Low Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Nuit d	Year composed 1880	Piano Organ Voice 2 more instruments Choir Low Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Soiree Dans Grenade	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Second Arabesque	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Printemps paraphrase	See work details	Piano Cello violin Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Serenade of the Doll	See work details	Piano Flute 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.