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 28 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
No. 4: Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l'air du soir	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 2: Les cloches	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 12: Feux d'Artifice	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 3: Pour les Quartes	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Arabesque No. 1 in E Major	Key in title E major	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Reverie - Electric Bass	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Little Shepherd from Children's Corner - Full Score	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Fille aux cheveux de lin - Alto Guitar 1	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Jimbo's Lullaby from Children's Corner - Horn in F	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Fille aux cheveux de lin - Violin 2	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Fille aux cheveux de lin - B-flat Trumpet 2	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Berceuse Héroïque - Score	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Berceuse Héroïque - Horn in F 2	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Berceuse Héroïque - Bass Trombone	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Little Shepherd from Children's Corner - Piano	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Cathédrale engloutie - Piano	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Bruyères - Flute	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Arabesque No. 1 - Flute	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Minuet from Suite Bergamasque - Flute	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Reverie - Piano	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Girl with the Flaxen Hair - B-flat Clarinet 2	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Girl with the Flaxen Hair - E-flat Contra-alto Clarinet	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin - Euphonium 2 BC	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Jimbo's Lullaby - B-flat Clarinet 2	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Girl with the Flaxen Hair - Bass Trombone	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Clair de lune - Trumpet 1	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Girl with the Flaxen Hair - Horn in F	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images , No. 2: Hommage à Rameau	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 4: Recueillement	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 8: Ondine	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 2: Feuilles mortes	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 10: Pour les Sonorités Opposées	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 4: Les Fées sont d'exquises danseuses	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images , No. 3: Poissons d'or	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
No. 6: Des pas sur la neige	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Prelude VIII	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Little Shepherd from Children's Corner - Alto Guitar 1	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Fille aux cheveux de lin - Alto Guitar 2	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Jimbo's Lullaby from Children's Corner - Trombone 1	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Work & excerpts Suite Bergamasque - Piano 4 excerpt listings	See work details	Check individual editions	View sheet music Contents & editions
La Fille aux cheveux de lin - Viola	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Fille aux cheveux de lin - Horn in F	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Berceuse Héroïque - Trumpet 1	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Berceuse Héroïque - Horn in E-flat 2	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Berceuse Héroïque - Tuba	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Serenade for the Doll from Children's Corner - Preface	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Cathédrale engloutie - Preface	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Bruyères - Preface	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.