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 32 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
Ariettes Oubliees - V. Green	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Ariettes Oubliees - VI. Spleen	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Cinq poemes de Baudelaire - Le Balcon	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Cinq poemes de Baudelaire - Harmonie du Soir	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Cinq poemes de Baudelaire - Le Jet d'Eau	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Cinq poemes de Baudelaire - Recueillement	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Cinq poemes de Baudelaire - La Mort des Amants	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Deux Romances - Romance	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Deux Romances - Les Cloches	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Trois melodies - La mer est plus belle	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Trois melodies - Le son du cor s'afflige	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Trois melodies - L'echelonnement des haies	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Fetes galantes (Set 1) - En sourdine	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Fetes galantes (Set 1) - Fantoches	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Fetes galantes (Set 1) - Claire de lune	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Proses lyriques - De reve	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Proses lyriques - De greve	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Proses lyriques - De fleurs	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Proses lyriques - De soir	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Chansons de Bilitis - La flute de Pan	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Chansons de Bilitis - La chevelure	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Chansons de Bilitis - Le tombeau des naides	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Trois chansons de France - Le temps a laissie son manteau	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Trois chansons de France - La Grotte	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Trois chansons de France - Rondel	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Fetes galantes - Les ingenus	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Fetes galantes - Le faune	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Fetes galantes - Colloque sentimental	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Le promenoir des deux amants - I. Aupres de cette grotte sombre - see Les ingenus	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Le promenoir des deux amants - II. Crois mon conseil, chere Climene	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Le promenoir des deux amants - III. Je tremble en voyant ton visage	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Trois Ballades de Francois Villon - I. Ballade de Villon a s'amye	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Trois Ballades de Francois Villon - II. Ballade qui Villon feit a la requeste de sa mere pour prier Nostre-Dame	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Trois Ballades de Francois Villon - III. Ballade des femmes de Paris	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Trois poemes de Mallarme - I. Soupir	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Trois poemes de Mallarme - II. Placet futile	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
Trois poemes de Mallarme - III. Eventail	See work details	Voice	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Little Shepherd , L114, No. 5	See work details	Flute	View sheet music Work & edition details
Prelude de la Damoiselle elue	See work details	Organ	View sheet music Work & edition details
Andante du Quatuor	See work details	Organ	View sheet music Work & edition details
Prelude de l'Enfant Prodigue	See work details	Organ	View sheet music Work & edition details
Le Petit Nègre -- Cakewalk	See work details	Piano	View sheet music Work & edition details
Souhait	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Le Lilas	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Il dort encore	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Les Roses	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Les angélus	See work details	Piano Vocal	View sheet music Work & edition details
L'échelonnement des haies	See work details	Piano Vocal	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.