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 27 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
Jimbo's Lullaby - E-flat Clarinet	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Jimbo's Lullaby - E-flat Contra-alto Clarinet	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Girl with the Flaxen Hair - Trombone 2	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Clair de lune - Score and Parts	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Sarabande - from Debussy's "Pour le Piano"	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Le Petite Negre - Trombone	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Girl with the Flaxen Hair - Trumpet 1 in Bb	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 5: Les collines d'Anacapri	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 7: La terrasse des audiences du clair de lune	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 3: Menuet	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 1: Pour les Cinq Doigts	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 1: Danseuses de Delphes	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 1: Romance	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images , No. 1: Cloches à travers les feuilles	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images , No. 1: Reflets dans I'eau	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Minstrels - Score	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Reverie - Alto Guitar 2	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Fille aux cheveux de lin - Full Score	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Jimbo's Lullaby from Children's Corner - Trumpet in C 2	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Fille aux cheveux de lin - Violin 1	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Fille aux cheveux de lin - B-flat Trumpet 1	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Fille aux cheveux de lin - Trombone 3	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Berceuse Héroïque - Horn in E-flat 1	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Berceuse Héroïque - B-flat Trombone 2	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Clair de lune from Suite Bergamasque - easy version - Piano	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Syrinx - Flute	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Serenade for the Doll from Children's Corner - Piano	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Bruyères - Score	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
En Bateau - Preface	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Arabesque No. 1 - Score	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Minuet from Suite Bergamasque - Score	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Girl with the Flaxen Hair - B-flat Clarinet 1	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Beau Soir - Set of Parts	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin - Euphonium 1 TC	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Jimbo's Lullaby - B-flat Clarinet 1	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Jimbo's Lullaby - Score and Parts	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Girl with the Flaxen Hair - Trombone 3	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Prélude No. 6 / Pensées sur un Prélude	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Le Petite Negre - Score and Parts	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Le Petite Negre - Tuba	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Girl with the Flaxen Hair - Trumpet 2 in Bb	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 9: La Sérénade Interrompue	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 6: Pour les Huit Doigts	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 8: La Fille Aux Cheveux De Lin	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Les Estampes, No. 2: La Soirée dans Grenade	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 7: Pour les Degrés Chromatiques	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 5: Pour les Octaves	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 2: Voiles	See work details	See edition details	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.