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 20 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
Rondes de printemps	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Jeux d'eau	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Miroirs (Complete)	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Page d'Album (Albumleaf)	See work details	Piano	View sheet music Work & edition details
Nuit d'etoiles [Arranged by Mimi Stillman, Text by Theodore De Banville]	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Beau soir [Arranged by Mimi Stillman, Text by Paul Bourget]	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Fleur des bles [Text by Girod]	See work details	Piano Flute Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Mandoline [Text by Paul Verlaine]	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Les cloches [Text by Paul Bourget]	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: Syrinx [ La flute de Pan] for Flute solo	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin, from Douze Preludes, Book 1	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Clair de Lune from Suite Bergamasque for piano	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Suite Bergamasque, No. 3: Clair de Lune	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Preludes, Premiere Livre; No. 12: Minstrels	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Work & excerpts General Lavine - eccentric 1 excerpt listings	See work details	Check individual editions	View sheet music Contents & editions
Chidren's Corner. No. 2: Jimbo's Lullaby	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Theme From Clair De Lune	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La mer - II. Jeux de vagues	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Arabesque #2	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
1. La Damoiselle Elue: Prelude (arr. Roques)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
4. L'Enfant Prodigue: Prelude, Cortege et Air de Danse (arr. Roques)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
2. Jeux de Vagues	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Fanfare to Act II, Le Martyre de Saint Sebastien	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Grand Slam	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Blues in A	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Haul Away, Joe	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
It Don't Matter To Me	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Mere Point	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Texas Tea	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Lonesome Dove	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Keel Row	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Rights Of Man	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Shearing's Not For You	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Been There- Done That	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Black Dog Blues	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Fandango	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Prairie Sunset	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Cajun Cooker	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Unclouded Day	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Ain't No Cure	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Amazing Grace	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
East Wind	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Jonah's Wake	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Loch Lomond	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Tango For Edgar	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Walkin' Bass	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Wilson's Hornpipe	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Cuckoo's Nest	See work details	Guitar	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.