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 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petite pièce |
| See edition details | View sheet music |
| Première rapsodie |
|
| View sheet music |
| Quatuor à Cordes, Op. 10 |
|
| View sheet music |
| DEUX RECIT | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| 22. Dans Il jardin | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| 24. Le son su coz | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| TROIS CHANSONS DE BILITIS | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| 37a. Recit et Air d'Azae l (in high voice edition) | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| 40. Colloque Sentimentale | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| 41. Les Temps a laissie | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Zephyr | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Jane | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Crois mon conseil, chere Climene | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Soupir | See work details | See edition details | View sheet music |
| Copacabana (At The Copa) | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| The Entertainer | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Hommage a S.Pickwick, Esq., P.P.M.P.C. | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Debussy: 'Ballet' | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Premier Livre | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Debussy: Hommage S. Pickwick | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Debussy: PremiEre Rhapsodie and Petite PiEce | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| About the Composer | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Estampes L. 100:1 | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| La Chevelure | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| II. Serenade | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| III. Finale | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Bibliography | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Danse [Tarentelle styrienne] (Piano solo) | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Bells Heard Through The Foliage | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Sacred and Profane Dances | See work details |
11 more instruments
| View sheet music |
| Das klagende Lied | See work details |
9 more instruments
| View sheet music |
| Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen | See work details |
9 more instruments
| View sheet music |
| 3. Blicke mir nicht in die Lieder | See work details |
9 more instruments
| View sheet music |
| Twelve Etudes For Piano | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Petite Suite, L65: 4. 'Ballet' | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Rialto Ripples (Gerswhin) | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Same title as publication | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Fragments from Act I | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Le paradis | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Une barque sur l'ocean | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Le vallee des cloches | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Rhapsodie espagnole | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| 1. Jumbo's Lullaby | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Ce Qu'a Vu Le Vent D'ou | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Chidren's Corner. No. 6: Golliwogg's Cakewalk | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Simple Gifts | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Battle Cry of Freedom | See work details |
| View sheet music |
| Eighth Of January | See work details |
| 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.