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 24 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
Arabesque No. 1 in E	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Nuit d'etoiles	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Cathedrale engloutie from Preludes, Book I	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Des pas sur la neige from Preludes, Book I	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La fille aux cheveux de lin from Preludes, Book I	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Minstrels from Preludes, Book I	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Mer - I. De l'aube a midi sur La Mer Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Mer - II. Jeux de Vagues Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Mer - III. Dialogue du Vent et de La Mer Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Petite Suite - 1. En Bateau	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Petite Suite - 2. Cortege	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Petite Suite - 3. Menuet	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Petite Suite - 4. Ballet	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Suite Bergamasque - I. Prelude	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Suite Bergamasque - II. Menuet	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Suite Bergamasque - III. Clair de Lune	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Suite Bergamasque - IV. Passapied	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Suite: Pour Le Piano - I. Prelude	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Suite: Pour Le Piano - II. Sarabande	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Suite: Pour Le Piano - III. Toccata	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Estampes - I. Pagodes	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Estampes - II. La Soiree dans Grenade	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Estampes - III. Jardins sous la Pluie	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Piece pour Piano Performed by Claude Debussy	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images, Book I - I. Reflets dans l'Eau	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images, Book I - II. Hommage a Rameau	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images, Book I - III. Mouvement	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Children's Corner - I. Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Children's Corner - II. Jimbo's Lullaby	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Children's Corner - III. Serenade of the Doll	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Children's Corner - IV. The Snow is Dancing	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Children's Corner - V. The Little Shepherd	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Children's Corner - VI. Golliwog's Cakewalk	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images, Book II - I. Cloches a Travers les Feuilles	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images, Book II - II. Et La Lune Descend sur le Temple qui Fut	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images, Book II - III. Poissons d'Or	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Preludes, Book I - I. Danseuses de Delphes	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Preludes, Book I - II. Voiles	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Preludes, Book I - III. Le Vent dans la Plaine	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Preludes, Book I - IV. "Les Sons et les Parfums Tournent dans l"air du Soir"	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Preludes, Book I - V. Les Collines d'Anacapri	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Voici ce qu'il ecrit	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Girl with Flaxen Hair	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Petite Piece - G-Dur/G major	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Rhapsodie - Ges-Dur/G-flat major	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Le Petit Nègre	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Work & excerpts Preludes, book II 1 excerpt listings	See work details	Check individual editions	View sheet music Contents & editions
Rêverie	See work details	Piano violin Clarinet 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.