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 22 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
Nocturnes: II. Fetes Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
L'Enfant Prodigue - Recitative and Lia's Aria	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Danse -- Tarantelle Styrienne	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Le Petit Nègre -- Cakewalk	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Lotus Land [Op. 47, No. 1] Additional credits Cyril Scott	Catalogue / opus Op. 47, No. 1	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Le Petit Nègre -- Cakewalk [L. 114]	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
En Bateau Arranged by Durand; Additional credits Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
L'Eeurope Galante Additional credits André Campra	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Pastorelle Additional credits François Couperin	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Doctor Gradus Ad Parnassum [Lesure 113:1]	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Jimbo's Lullaby [Lesure 113:2]	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Le Petit Nègre [Lesure 114]	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Fille Aux Cheveux de Lin [L. 117:8]	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pour Invoquer Pan, Dieu Du Vent Dété [Lesure 131]	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Canope [L. 123: 10]	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Des Pas Sur la Neige [L. 117:6]	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Feuilles Mortes [L. 123:2]	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Cathédrale Engloutie [L. 117:10]	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Minstrels [L. 117:12]	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Soiree Dans Grenade Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Sarabande Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Fille Aux Cheveux De Lin Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Clair de Lune Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Mein Madel hat einen Rosenmund	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Morgengruss	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
A Game of Tag Additional credits Bohuslav Martinu	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Columbine Dances Additional credits Bohuslav Martinu	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Brouillards Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Feuilles mortes Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La puerta del Vino Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Les fees sont d'exquises danseuses Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Bruyeres Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
General Lavine-excentric- Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	Piano harpsichord Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
La terrasse des audiences du clair de lune Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Ondine Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Hommage a S. Pickwick Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	Piano harpsichord Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Canope Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Les tierces alternees Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Reflets dans l'eau Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Hommage a Rameau Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Mouvement Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Cloches a travers les feuilles Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Poissons d'or Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pour invoquer Pan, dieu du vent d'ete from Six Epigraphes antiques Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	Piano harpsichord Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pour un tombeau sans nom from Six Epigraphes antiques Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	Piano harpsichord Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pour que la nuit soit propice from Six Epigraphes antiques Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	Piano harpsichord Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pour la danseuse aux crotales from Six Epigraphes antiques Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	Piano harpsichord 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.