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 23 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
Pour l'Egyptienne from Six Epigraphes antiques Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	Piano harpsichord Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pour remercier la pluie au matin from Six Epigraphes antiques Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	Piano harpsichord Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Danse bohemienne Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	Piano harpsichord Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Mazurka Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	Piano harpsichord Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Reverie Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Valse romantique Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Nocturne Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
D'un cahier d'esquisses Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Morceau de concours Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	Piano harpsichord Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Hommage a Haydn Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La plus que lente Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Berceuse heroique Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Piece pour piano [Page d'album] Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	Piano harpsichord Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Elegie Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Noel Des Enfants Qu N'ont Plus De Maisons	See work details	Voice Low Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
I. En Bateau	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
III. Menuet	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Children's Corner-Cakewalk	See work details	Saxophone Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Mexican Hat Dance	See work details	Flute Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Foggy Dew	See work details	Flute Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Clair de Lune [L. 75: 3]	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Fetes From "Nocturnes"	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
This is languorous ecstasy	See work details	Low Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Der Springbrunnen	See work details	Low Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Prelude No. 5, Book 1: 'Les collines d'Anacapri'	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Maintenant Que Le Pere De Pelleas Est Sauve	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Beau-soir Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	Piano Cello Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Little Shepherd , L114, No. 5 Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Le Petit Negre, L114	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Danse de la Poupée [L. 128]	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Mouvements Perpétuels Additional credits Francis Poulenc	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
The New Puppet - Shimmy Additional credits Bohuslav Martinu	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Night Song Additional credits Carlisle Floyd	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Blacksmith Additional credits Samuel Maykapar	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Bourrée Additional credits Johann Philipp Kirnberger	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Grace and Beauty -- A Classy Rag Additional credits James Sylvester Scott	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Harlem Rag Additional credits Thomas M. J. Turpin	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Flower-Drum Additional credits Alexander Tchérépnin	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Jade Wheel Turns in the Dew Additional credits Alexander Tchérépnin	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Jeunes Filles Au Jardin Additional credits Federico Mompou	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pièce Pour Piano	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Soir d'été sur la Terrasse Additional credits Joaquín Turina	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Sonatine Additional credits Maurice Ravel	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
A Song from the East [Op. 54, No. 2] Additional credits Cyril Scott	Catalogue / opus Op. 54, No. 2	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Vale of Dreams [Op. 5, No. 2] Additional credits Charles Tomlinson Griffes	Catalogue / opus Op. 5, No. 2	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
The little shepherd Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Little Shepherd: No. 5 from 'Children's Corner'	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Page d'Album Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	Piano 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.