Composer
Claude Debussy
1862–1918
1,948 works in the index
- Era
- Modern
- Nationality
- France
- Born in
- Saint-Germain-en-Laye
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.
Catalogue
Works page 27 of 41
No. 3: Jet D'eau
Le Faune - No. 2 from "Fêtes Galantes" Set 2
Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum from Children's Corner - Preface
Le Temps A Laissié Son Manteau
Golliwogg's Cakewalk - Euphonium 2 BC/TC
The Little Negro - Preface
Pour invoquer Pan, dieu du vent d'été - Preface
Ballet from Petite Suite - B-flat Trumpet 1
Ballet from Petite Suite - Tuba
Golliwogg's Cakewalk - Trumpet 2
Golliwog's Cake-Walk from Children's Corner - B-flat Trumpet 1
The Little Negro - Alto Guitar 2
Danse de la Poupee - Preface
No. 3: Le vent dans le plaine
Piano Trio G Major - Cello
Pour invoquer Pan, dieu de vent d'été - Preface
Pour que la nuit soit propice - Preface
Sonata No. 2 for Flute, Viola and Harp - Viola
Minuet from Suite Bergamasque - Piano
Passepied from Suite Bergamasque - Piano
Serenade for the Doll from Children's Corner - Preface
La Cathédrale engloutie - Preface
Bruyères - Preface
Clair de lune from Suite Bergamasque - Score
Arabesque No. 1 - Preface
The Little Shepherd from Children's Corner - Score
Arabesque No. 1 - Piano
Reverie - Preface
The Girl with the Flaxen Hair - B-flat Clarinet 3
La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin - Euphonium 2 TC
Jimbo's Lullaby - B-flat Clarinet 3
Le Martyre de Saint Sébastien: Prélude to Act 3 - Tuba
No. 4: Les Fées sont d'exquises danseuses
En sourdine - No. 1 from "Fêtes galantes," Set 1 - L80
Images , No. 3: Poissons d'or
No. 6: Des pas sur la neige
C'est l'extase - No. 1 from "Ariettes oubliées" - L60
Prelude VIII
Suite Bergamasque: Menuet
The Little Shepherd from Children's Corner - Alto Guitar 1
La Fille aux cheveux de lin - Alto Guitar 2
Jimbo's Lullaby from Children's Corner - Trombone 1
Suite Bergamasque - Piano
La Fille aux cheveux de lin - Viola
La Fille aux cheveux de lin - Horn in F
Berceuse Héroïque - Trumpet 1
Berceuse Héroïque - Horn in E-flat 2
Berceuse Héroïque - Tuba
Dates, era and nationality from Wikidata, matched on name and verified against any dates already held here. The biography above is our own. Portrait: Adam Cuerden, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.