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
- 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
- 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 7 of 35
Instruments describe listed editions, including arrangements. Composition dates and keys appear where recorded; collection pages show their individual contents.
| Title | Work details | Listed instruments | Sheet music |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hommage To Haydn | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Homage To Rameau | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Movement | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Rhapsody for Clarinet | See work details |
11 more instruments
| View sheet music |
| Symphony No. 4 in G Major |
|
9 more instruments
| View sheet music |
| Symphony No. 8 in Eb Major |
|
9 more instruments
| View sheet music |
| Symphony No. 9 in D Major |
|
9 more instruments
| View sheet music |
| Kindertotenlieder | See work details |
9 more instruments
| View sheet music |
| Das Lied von der Erde | See work details |
9 more instruments
| View sheet music |
| 4. Ich atmet' einen Linden Duft | See work details |
9 more instruments
| View sheet music |
| 5. Ich bin der Welt abhanden | See work details |
9 more instruments
| View sheet music |
| Petite Suite, L65: 2. 'Cortege'' | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Debussy: Pour la danseuse aux crotales | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| La serenade interompue | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Debussy: The Little Negro | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Pour Invoquer Pan, Dieu Du Vent D'ete | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Debussy: Ballad | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| The Maid with the Flaxen Hair | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Moonlight | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| 3. Pour que un Nuit soit Propice | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| 4. Pour la Danseuse aux Crotales | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| 6. Pour Remercier la Pluie au Matin | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Debussy: Pour un tombeau sans nom | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Gaspard de la nuit | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Largo | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Quartet In F Minor |
|
| View sheet music |
| The Holly and the Ivy | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Symphonie | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Andante cantabile | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| III. Serenade of the Doll | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| 2. Les Cheveaux (Act III, sc. 1) | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Magic Carpet of Dreams | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Minuet Sur le Nom d'Haydn Additional credits Maurice Ravel | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| O Polichinelo Additional credits Heitor Villa-Lobos | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Le Piccadilly -- Marche Additional credits Erik Satie | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| String Quartet in G minor Op.10 |
| See edition details | View sheet music |
| Golliwogg's Cakewalk - Tuba 1 | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| String Quartet No. 1 2nd movement - Piano/Synth | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Sonata d minor - Score | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Debussy: Pour le Piano (Suite) | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Debussy: Estampes | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Études, L. 136: I. Pour les « cinq doigts » d'après monsieur Czerny | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Sonate pour violoncelle et piano | See work details |
1 more instruments
| View sheet music |
| Fête galante, L. 23, CD 31, mélodie pour voix et piano "Voilà Sylandre et Lycas et Myrtil" | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Apparition, L. 53, CD 57, mélodie pour voix et piano "La lune s’attristait. Des séraphins en pleurs" |
|
| View sheet music |
| 3 Chansons de Charles d'Orléans |
| See edition details | View sheet music |
| En Blanc et Noir (In Black and White) |
|
| View sheet music |
| 3 Mélodies |
|
| View sheet music |
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.