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 29 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
Clair de lune from Suite Bergamasque - Score	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Arabesque No. 1 - Preface	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Little Shepherd from Children's Corner - Score	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Arabesque No. 1 - Piano	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Reverie - Preface	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Girl with the Flaxen Hair - B-flat Clarinet 3	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin - Euphonium 2 TC	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Jimbo's Lullaby - B-flat Clarinet 3	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Clair de lune - Trumpet 2	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Le Petite Negre - Trumpet 1 in Bb	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Arabesque No 1 in E major from Deux arabesques L 66	Key in title E major	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Syrinx in D flat major	Key in title D-flat major	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
De Pas Sur La Neige	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Puerta Del Vinto	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Berceuse Heroique / Heroic Lullaby	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Book Ii:	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Douze Etudes / Twelve Etudes – Book I:	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Morceau De Concours / Competition Piece	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pour Invoque Pan, Dieu Du Vent D'ete	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Six Epigraphes Antiques / Six Antique Epigraphs:	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Reverie [Dancla, Charles]	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Prelude, Cortege Et Air De Danse From L'enfant Prodigue	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Danses – Danses Sacree Et Danse Profane / Sacred Dance And Secular Dance	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Mer / The Sea	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Marche Ecossaise Sur Un Theme Populaire (The 'earl Of Ross March') / Scottish March On A Popular Theme	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Aquarelles 1: Green	See work details	Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Aquarelles 2 Spleen	See work details	Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Mer Est Plus Belle Que Les Cathedrales	See work details	Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Le Son Du Cor S'afflige Vers Les Bois	See work details	Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
L'echelonnement Des Haies Moutonne A L'infini	See work details	Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Paysages Belges: Chevaux De Bois	See work details	Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
[Unknown]	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Aimons-nous Et Dormons	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Ariettes Oubilees:	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Cinq Poemes De Charles Baudelaire:	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Fetes Galantes Pour Madame Vasnier:	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pantomine	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Essential Horn	See work details	Horn Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Suite Bergamasque [Debussy, Claude]	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pelleas And Melisande	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Glossary Of French Terms	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
No.1	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
No.2	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
No.16	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Homage To Rameau, From 'Images' Book I	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Homage To S.Pickwick Esq. P.P.M.P.C.	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Selected Preludes	See work details	See edition details	View sheet music Work & edition details
Selections From 'Children's Corner Suite'	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.