JustSheetMusic
Portrait of Claude Debussy

Composer

Claude Debussy

1862–1918

1,795 works in the index

Born
1862
Died
1918
Birthplace
Saint-Germain-en-Laye
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.

In this catalogue

Common listed instruments
Piano, Voice, Clarinet, Flute, Harp
Genres represented
Classical, Jazz, Pop, Children, Christmas
Works with composition dates
118 of 1,795

These details describe the indexed sheet music, including arrangements.

Catalogue

Works page 3 of 38

Years are composition dates where known. Instruments describe editions in our catalogue and may include arrangements. A dash means the detail is not recorded.

Works and available sheet music details
WorkYear composedCatalogue / opusKey in titleListed instrumentsGenreEditions
Second Arabesque — —— PianoClassical 8
Printemps paraphrase — —— Piano, Cello, violinClassical 7
Serenade of the Doll — —— Piano, FluteClassical 11
Danse de la poupee — —— PianoClassical 7
Golliwog's Cake-walk from Children's Corner Suite — —— Piano, Organ, Guitar, Cello, Flute, Oboe, violin, Bassoon, Horn, Clarinet, Piccolo, English Horn, ViolaClassical 14
Debussy: Children's Corner — —— PianoClassical 10
Études, L. 136: VII. Pour les degrés chromatiques — —— PianoClassical 10
Études, L. 136: II. Pour les tierces — —— PianoClassical 9
Études, L. 136: IV. Pour les sixtes — —— PianoClassical 9
Hommage à Joseph Haydn, L. 115 1909 (May)IMSLP —— Piano, Timpani, percussionClassical 13
Études, L. 136: III. Pour les quartes — —— PianoClassical 9
Images oubliées, L. 87: Lent (mélancolique et doux) — —— PianoClassical 10
Sonata for Cello and Piano 1915 (July-August)IMSLP —— Harp, Flute, ViolaClassical 8
Morceau de Concours 1904IMSLP —— Piano, harpsichordClassical 8
Proses lyriques 1892-93Wikidata —— Piano, Voice, Low VoiceClassical 9
Les sons et les parfums (Piano solo) — —— Piano, harpsichordClassical 7
Ballet — —— Piano, Harp, Organ, violin, Timpani, percussionClassical 13
L'Apres Midi D'un Faune (The Afternoon Of A Faun) — —— Piano, violin, ClarinetClassical 9
Et La lune descend sur temple qui fut (And the Moon Sets on the Temple Ruins), L. 111:2 — —— PianoClassical 8
Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum from CHILDREN'S CORNER — —— PianoClassical 7
Page d'album / Album Leaf — —— PianoClassical 6
Pour invoquer Pan, dieu du vent d'ete from Six Epigraphes antiques (Piano solo) — —— Piano, FluteClassical 8
Pour que la nuit soit propice from Six Epigraphes antiques (Piano solo) — —— PianoClassical 8
Etude in E Major Op 10 No 3 — Op 10 No 3E major PianoClassical 8
'air' from Orchestral Suite No 3 1886-89IMSLP —— PianoClassical 8
Bohemian Dance 1890IMSLP —— —Classical 8
Debussy: Album for Piano Solo — —— PianoClassical 8
Préludes, Livre I, L. 117: VII. Ce qu'a vu le vent d'ouest. Animé et tumultueux — —— Piano, harpsichordClassical 14
Études, L. 136: V. Pour les octaves — —— PianoClassical 7
Noël des enfants qui n'ont plus de maisons 1915IMSLP —— VoiceClassical 7
14. Il pleure dans mon coeur — —— Voice, Low VoiceClassical 10
III. Yver, vous n'estes qu'un villain (Cold winter, villain that thou art) — —— Voice, Choir, A CappellaClassical 4
Pour un tombeau sans nom from Six Epigraphes antiques (Piano solo) — —— PianoClassical 7
Pour l'Egyptienne from Six Epigraphes antiques (Piano solo) — —— PianoClassical 8
1. Pour Invoquer Pan — —— PianoClassical 6
Arabesques No.2 1890-91IMSLP —— PianoClassical 7
Arietta, Op. 12, No. 1 — Op. 12, No. 1— PianoClassical 8
IV. Ballet 1913IMSLP —— PianoClassical 7
Des pas sur la niege — —— Piano, harpsichordClassical 8
Londonderry Air — —— CelloClassical 7
Ballet from Petite Suite - B-flat Trumpet 2 — —— —Classical 7
Images, Livre 2, L. 111: No. 1. Cloches à travers les feuilles — —— PianoClassical 8
Études, L. 136: VI. Pour les huits doigts — —— PianoClassical 6
Cinq Poèmes de Baudelaire, L. 64, CD 70: IV. Recueillement — —— Piano, Voice, Low VoiceClassical 7
Cinq Poèmes de Baudelaire, L. 64, CD 70: I. Le balcon — —— Piano, Voice, Low VoiceClassical 8
Cinq Poèmes de Baudelaire, L. 64, CD 70: II. Harmonie du soir — —— Piano, Voice, Low VoiceClassical 8
Deux Arabesques 1890-91Wikidata —— PianoClassical 13
12 Pièces pour Grand Orgue - Transcriptions — —— OrganClassical 6

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.