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 6 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
Intermezzo	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Trois chants de France	See work details	Piano Organ Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
De r	See work details	Piano Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pavane	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Dies ist tr?ge Ekstase	See work details	Low Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Il pleur dans mon coeur	See work details	Harp Clarinet Timpani 2 more instruments Piccolo percussion Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Rendez-Vous Manqué Additional credits Michel Block	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Sonate	See work details	Piano violin Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: String Quartet, Op. 10	Catalogue / opus Op. 10	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: Le Martyre de Saint S	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Images, Livre 2, L. 111: No. 2. Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Études, L. 136: X. Pour les sonorités opposées	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Tarantelle styrienne, L. 69, CD 77a, (Danse) pour piano	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Nuit d’étoiles, L. 4, CD 2, mélodie pour voix et piano "Nuit d’étoiles, sous tes voiles"	See work details	Piano Flute Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pantomime, L. 31, CD 47, mélodie pour voix et piano "Pierrot, qui n’a rien d’un Clitandre"	Year composed 1883	Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
3 Chansons de Bilitis	Year composed 1897-98	Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Trois chansons de France	Year composed 1904	Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Lindaraja	Year composed 1901 (April)	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
La Mer, trois esquisses symphoniques	Year composed 1903-05, rev. 1909	Orchestra Triangle Timpani 3 more instruments Tuba Piccolo Drum Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pelléas et Mélisande	Year composed 1893-1902	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
5 poèmes de Baudelaire	Year composed 1887–89	Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Sonata for Flute, Viola & Harp	Year composed 1915	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Voici que le printemps	Year composed 1884	Piano Organ Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
CHANSONS	See work details	Low Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
16. Chevaux de bois	See work details	Harp Voice Clarinet 4 more instruments Timpani Piccolo percussion Low Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
18. Spleen (Aquarelles)	See work details	Harp Voice Clarinet 4 more instruments Timpani Piccolo percussion Low Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
28. Fantoches	See work details	Voice Low Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
29. De reve	See work details	Voice Low Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
31. De fleurs	See work details	Piano Voice Low Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
39. Le Faune	See work details	Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
I. Dieu! qu'il la fait bon regarder! (Lord, lovely hast thou made my dear!)	See work details	Voice Choir A Cappella Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
L'echelonnement des haies	See work details	Piano Organ Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Colloque sentimental	See work details	Piano Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Rondel: Le temps a laissie	See work details	Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Je tremble en voyant ton visage	See work details	See edition details Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Glossary	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
The Children's Corner	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Hommage a S. Pickwick (Piano solo)	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: 'General Lavine' - excentric	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
About the Music	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: Danse bohmienne	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Notes on the Edition	See work details	Piano Cello Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Critical Commentary	See work details	Piano Cello Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Debussy: Danse [Tarentelle styrienne]	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Chanson Espagnole	See work details	Piano Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Musique	See work details	Piano Voice Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Pagodas	See work details	Piano Classical	View sheet music Work & edition details
Evening In Granada	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.