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 21 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
Irish Hymn	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Star In The Night	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Bluegrass Break	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
I-44	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Ii Est Ne'	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
West Side Bues	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Young McGoldrick	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Wellsville Ridge	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Andante	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Volte	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Blue Monday	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Mckenna's Cove	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
Waly, Waly	See work details	Guitar	View sheet music Work & edition details
II. Jimbo's Lullaby	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
IV. The snow is dancing	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
V. The little Shepherd	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Recit et air d'Azael	See work details	Piano Organ Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pour l'Ouvre du "Vetement du Blesse"	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
La fille aux cheveux de lin (Girl With the Flaxen Hair) (Debussy)	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
I Prelude	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
II Sarabande	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
III Toccata	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Originally for voice and piano, early songs originally published in a 1926 supplement to "La Revue Musical" as Quatre Melodies	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Afternoon of a Faun, Nocturnes	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Three nocturnes	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Le Petit Noir	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Arabesques No.1	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Sunken Cathedral	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Dieu, quiil la fait bon regarder - H-Dur/B major	See work details	Choir Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Quant jiai ouy le tabourin - fis-Moll/F# minor	See work details	Choir Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
4 Preludes	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Le terrasse des audiences du clair de lune	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Nocture	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Marche ecossaise	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Nuit d'etoiles, sous tes voiles	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Le long des bles	See work details	Piano Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Le bon Pierrot	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Si j'etais le Zephyr aile	See work details	Piano Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Des trous a son pourpoint vermeil	See work details	Piano Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Cloches chretiennes	See work details	Piano Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
La lune s'attrisait	See work details	Piano Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Le Petite Berger	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Le Petite Negre	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Work & excerpts GIRL WITH THE FLAXEN HAIR 18 excerpt listings	See work details	Check individual editions	View sheet music Contents & editions
Moonlight Sonata, 1st movement	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Je te veux	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
2nd Arabesque	See work details	See edition details Rock · Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
LITTLE NEGRO, THE	See work details	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.